Richard Froese
South Peace News
Peace River School Division will raise Treaty 8 and Metis flags at a ceremony March 13 at the central office in Grimshaw.
The ceremony outside central office is scheduled to start at 8:15 a.m. followed by a flag-raising ceremony inside the boardroom, says a PRSD news release Feb. 26.
Board chair Crystal Owens says the ceremonies and flags show respect.
“We are thrilled to be able to continue these flag-raising ceremonies after a few years of volatile wildfire seasons,” Owens says.
“We will raise these flags at three different locations in 2025 and then continue to plan these important ceremonies in close partnership with our Indigenous communities at all PRSD schools.”
Ceremonies are also scheduled for March 12 in Fairview at Fairview Jr-Sr High School and E.E. Oliver Elementary School.
PRSD acknowledges the harm caused by residential schools in the local area and across Canada. For that reason, it is imperative that PRSD meaningfully demonstrate that its schools are a safe place for all its students.
“These flag-raising ceremonies are meant to demonstrate our Division’s ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation,” Owens says.
“As a Division, we feel it is important to recognize the territory our schools stand on is appropriately recognized as Alberta, as Canada, as Treaty 8 territory and as the land base of the Metis Nation.”
In 2021, the PRSD board passed a motion to honour the Treaty 8 flag and the Metis flag at all PRSD schools.