St. Joseph School students & staff created beautiful watercolour doves, as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, in memory of their former teacher, Mrs. Laura Luck. The doves were made during Catholic Schools Week, also in connection with the theme, “Seeking Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation”.

Every September 30, St. Joseph students participate in Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters.  Students wear an orange shirt to demonstrate the commitment to reconciliation and the impact residential schooling has had on Canada both past and present. 

St. Joseph Truth & Reconciliation Project
The students and staff worked together to create a Métis dot art map of Canada on September 29 for Orange Shirt Day. 

The Indigenous Art Project was inspired by the Métis Trade Routes of the Pacific Northwest map that was donated to the school last year by the West Kootenay Métis Society. The map was created by two Métis artists, Kristi Bridgeman and Lisa Shepherd. A special thanks to West Kootenay Métis Youth rep, Charly Defouw, for coming to the school to teach the students Métis dot painting.  

Great work students!

What Holds You Up Wings
St. Joseph worked together to create a beautiful set of wings. The theme was “What holds you up?” inspired by a children’s book called, You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith, of Cree and Lakota descent. The story encourages children to show love and support for each other and to consider each other’s well-being in their everyday actions. 

Students were asked to paint a feather and write on it something that holds them up, supports them, and/or makes them feel good about themselves. Each staff and student had their picture taken in front of the wings. This was a reminder that we are all here for each other. We work together as a school community to lift one another up. 

Students made Métis Dot Paintings, Finger Drums and participated in finger weaving. Our school's big project was to create a Community Drum. Students first put their good intentions into the drum, and then worked together to tied the cow hides tight. All students made their own drum sticks using sticks, sinew and cow hide, and they decorated them with dot artwork.

A special thank you to West Kootenay Métis Youth rep, Charly Defouw; Selkirk College Cultural Activities Coordinator, Ann-Marie Smith; Christoper Yates; and West Kootenay Métis Society President, Don Courson.

• Nelson Star Newspaper Article