Flag Raising Ceremonies
Peace River School Division (PRSD) is excited to announce that on Thursday May 18th, 2023 at 9:00am the Treaty 8 flag and the Métis flag will be permanently raised outside Central Operations in Grimshaw. Both flags will also be permanently installed in a place of honor in our boardroom.
It is our goal to work in a respectful partnership with our Indigenous communities. To this end, the PRSD Board of Trustees passed a motion to honor the Treaty 8 flag and the Métis flag at all of our schools. To help us move this initiative forward with a deeper understanding, a team gathered by the Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta came to Grimshaw last Fall to share with us about the true spirit and intent of treaties.
We were honored that the Grand Chief of Treaty 8, Arthur Noskey, guided our learning. He was supported in this by two Treaty 8 Elders, Kathleen Laboucan from the Woodland Cree Nation and Danny Laboucan from Whitefish Lake First Nation as well as by Margo Auger, the Chief Administrative Officer and Melissa Gillis, the Chief Strategy Officer from the Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta. Our Board Chair was joined by other Trustees, our Superintendent, additional division-level leaders, and representatives from all of our schools for this meaningful learning experience.
Guided by representatives from Treaty 8 First Nations and the Métis Nation, we have planned these flag raising Ceremonies to demonstrate our school division’s ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. The Treaty 8 flag that will be brought into the PRSD Boardroom will be the one that was gifted to Board Chair Delainah Walker and our Superintendent Adam Murray by Grand Chief Arthur Noskey at the conclusion of the day of learning at Central Operations.
We will also be hosting additional flag raising Ceremonies in Fairview on Thursday, June 1st, 2023. The Treaty 8 flag and the Métis flag will both be installed permanently outside our elementary school in Fairview, E.E Oliver, and outside Fairview Jr/Sr High School which also houses the Fairview and Area Learning Store. We are excited to have our students witness the raising of the flags which they will then see each day they come to school.