Request for School Name Change

ÉCES Board Presentation

November 30, 2022

4 Seasons of Reconciliation

Mr. Dargis arranged for all staff to take an on-line course suggested by Ms. Haveroen

​

We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism. (Call to Action #57)

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action

• #47 We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to repudiate concepts used to justify European sovereignty over Indigenous peoples and lands. Such as the Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius, and to reform those laws, government policies, and litigation strategies that continue to rely on such concepts.

Colonialism

• Colonialism refers to the political, social, economic, and cultural domination of a territory by a foreign power for an extended period.
• European nations founded colonies throughout the New World vindicated by way of Papal Bulls. These laws, called Doctrine of Discovery, asserted that Christian Nations had a divine right, based on the Bible, to claim absolute title to any lands inhabited by non-Christians.
• Colonialism was driven by the search for resources, free slave labour, and lands to conquer.

Colonialism in Canada

• Systemic and controlled starvation
• Starvation of the Plains, Starvation of the North
• Land Theft and control
• High Arctic Relocation, Falsified Treaties, Reserve System
• Population Control
• Pass System, Indian Status, Residential Schools

​

• Enacting new laws to justify and legalize land theft
• 1830 Detribalization, Indian Act, Bagot Commission
• Extermination
• Fraser Canyon War, Batoche, Red River Rebellion

​

Coloniale

• “While Indigenous children were being mistreated in residential schools being told they were heathens, savages and pagans and inferior people - that same message was being delivered in the public schools of this country.”

Justice Murray Sinclair

Schools are special places

School Parent Account

My name is Felice Gladue. My husband, Trevor Gladue and I are a proud Indigenous family. He is Metis Cree, and I am Metis. We have had children attend Ecole Coloniale Estates School since 2015. 

About 2 years ago, I sat in a meeting with other Indigenous participants discussing the future expansion of the Beaumont Library specifically how libraries can decolonize and incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing and learning. As I introduced myself and mentioned that my children attend Ecole Coloniale Estates School, another Indigenous participant not from Beaumont blurted out, “Oh boy, we have a lot of work to do in this community when you have a school named after Colonialism!” That comment completely caught me off guard and I was embarrassed. Here I am a Metis person who shares Indigenous culture and history in schools and communities trying to break down barriers and stereotypes and I had never even thought about Coloniale equating to colonialism. 

Since that initial revelation, several other Indigenous acquaintances and friends have commented in disgust about the name of my children’s school and have shared with me how colonialism has traumatized and damaged many generations in their family. 

I have reflected on these conversations wondering why I had never seen this correlation before. Our time at Ecole Coloniale Estates School has been a positive one filled with memories of joy and community and so those feelings have been associated with the school and hence the word Coloniale. However, now that I have been enlightened, I am hesitant, no actually embarrassed to use the school’s name. 

I am asking the board to consider renaming Ecole Coloniale Estates School in light of our society’s current knowledge and understanding of colonial history in our country. I am not one in favour of erasing history. With change, dialogue, education and representation of history  from all sides is important. I suggest this renaming process accompany education to the staff, students and community on why the school is being renamed. I even suggest a plaque on the school wall explaining why the name was changed and celebrating the new name. 

Thank you for your time and consideration to this matter. 

School Parent & Staff Member Account

My name is Hayley Corcoran. I am currently a teacher at  École Coloniale Estates school. My two sons have both attended  ÉCES from kindergarten to grade 6, with my youngest currently in grade 6 at the school. 

​

My family and I have loved being a part of the warm, welcoming  ÉCES community for nine years.  The school is a cornerstone in our community and one of the reasons we chose to make the neighborhood our home. 

​

Both as a mother and a teacher, I believe when we know better we must do better for the children in our care. When I first started my journey with  ÉCES, I did not put much, if any, thought into the name of the school. In recent years I have been actively working to increase my knowledge and understanding of Métis, First Nations and Inuit history and culture. Through this education I have learned more about what Colonialism truly means. With this knowledge, I have a very difficult time celebrating our school's name with my students. How can I proudly wear a T-shirt with  École “Coloniale” Estates School on it, while teaching about how Colonialism has wronged so many? On one hand, it does bring about excellent discussions. However, it is one thing to have a conversation, it is another, to show that you are actively working towards reconciliation. 

​

So today I ask, are you ready and willing to take an active step towards reconciliation in our community? Let's ensure each school in the Black Gold School Division has a name to be celebrated.

​

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my perspective.

​

Our Request

• By a unanimous vote by School Council that the name of the school be changed!
• That consideration is given for costs associated with changing a name.
• School Signage, Jerseys, and other related items

Thank-you

British Colonialism Around the World

• India
• Enforced the partition of the continent
• Oversaw one of the largest famines in world history (3 million deaths)
• Killed peaceful protesters during the Amritsar Massacre
• Kenya
• Sent settlers in 1902, established African Reserves, controlled movement within the country
• 1950s saw hundreds of thousands Kenyans sent to concentration camps to quell their desire for independence

Con’t

• Australia
• Displaced Indigenous People who had lived on the land for 60 000 years
• Between 1788 and 1900 the Indigenous population was reduced by 90%
• United States
• 1830 Indian Removal Act saw the removal of Indigenous people who lived east of the Mississippi
• Create the Native American boarding schools with inspiration from Canada

Con’t

• South Africa
• 1948 apartheid began racial segregation forcing Non-whites to live seperate. Inspired by the reserve system in Canada
• Land Acts gave 80% of lands to the white minority