Interview with Kyl Morrison
During the investigation period of our project, we arranged an interview with the OCDSB’s Indigenous Support teacher, Kyl Morrison. Kyl Morrison is responsible for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Education, and we thought it would greatly benefit us to hear about Indigenous Land Recognition from the perspective of someone like him who greatly connects to the topic.
How can we continue speaking about Orange Shirt Day, after it has passed?
During Orange Shirt Day and Truth and Reconciliation Week, we spread awareness of the injustices that the Indigenous people suffered from when residential schools were prominent in Canada. However, once those days pass, how are we able to continue the conversation? Orange Shirt Day is connected to who we are as Canadians. Acknowledging that residential schools and the events connected to them are one way to keep the conversation going, however, it shouldn’t be the only thing that we talk about. Something positive to talk about would be the cultural diversity in the Indigenous community. For example, in British Columbia alone there are over 200 First Nation communities. Each of these communities has its unique traditions, culture and history. These communities are responsible for 60% of the First Nation languages spoken in Canada.
Truth and Reconciliation memorial located at Parliament Hill, July 19, 2021.
How can we make land acknowledgements be shown as sincere and that it seems genuine?
During Orange Shirt Day and Truth and Reconciliation Week, we spread awareness of the injustices that the Indigenous people suffered from when residential schools were prominent in Canada. However, once those days pass, how are we able to continue the conversation? Orange Shirt Day is connected to who we are as Canadians. Acknowledging that residential schools and the events connected to them are one way to keep the conversation going, however, it shouldn’t be the only thing that we talk about. Something positive to talk about would be the cultural diversity in the Indigenous community. For example, in British Columbia alone there are over 200 First Nation communities. Each of these communities has its unique traditions, culture and history. These communities are responsible for 60% of the First Nation languages spoken in Canada.
Do you know what schools are doing currently to recognize Indigenous land?
As inspiring as it is seeing these large movements such as Orange Shirt Day and Truth and Reconciliation, what is currently happening in Canadian schools to recognize Indigenous land? There is a lot of energy going into land acknowledgements in schools all across Canada, with a lot of schools and classes making their own unique land acknowledgements. For example, our school, Ridgemont High School, has students giving their personalized land acknowledgements with the announcements each morning. This is a great example of what a land acknowledgment should sound like; not set in stone or scripted. It should reflect what is important to the setting and individual.