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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, April 18, 2013 | 32 Elder gives first-hand lesson with smudging by Dominik Kurek Oakville Beaver Staff The Grade 10 history students of Garth Webb Secondary School got a firsthand lesson in aboriginal affairs from Elder Gary Sault of the Mississaugas of the New Credit. Sault was at the school April 10 to smudge and bless tiles the students had made, each one representing a survivor of residential schools. "Because they're making these plaques, they're looking at survivors that went through the residential schools," said Sault. The tiles are part of a national movement called Project of Heart. Each is designed to hon- our a survivor or someone who has died in a residential school. At Garth Webb, the studentmade tiles represented survivors. During the ceremony, Sault smudged the tiny creations. That involves the burning of sweet grass, sage and tobacco and singing. Sault also told the students his own personal story. Sault was able to avoid going to a residential school as his older brothers stole him away and took him to the U.S. He told the students, who sat in a circle around him in the school's library, that smudging the tiles, gives the tiles life. "By smudging them and doing this ceremony for them, we bring the tiles to life so that they Native Elder Gary Sault of the Mississaugas of the New Credit, performed a smudging (spiritual cleansing) ceremony for the Grade 10 Project of Heart tiles. This national movement involves students designing tiles to honour residential school survivors. At left, Sault presents to students. Above, some of the tiles. photos by Nikki Wesley­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) Don't HATE your kitchen! will talk for themselves," Sault said prior to the ceremony, "so that anybody who comes here and sees the tile, they'll see that story and it will speak out how the people here started to embrace looking at the First Nations people." The project was a collaboration by the school's history teachers Pam Calvert and Tara Mehlenbacher, librarian Sandra Rogers, the Halton District School Board's coordinator of Aboriginal and Métis education, Nick Bertrand, and the instructional program leader for Canada and world studies Kerry Sagar, and the Project of Heart. Calvert said teachers are constantly looking for ways to engage students, and the tiles project was a success. The students received stories from survivors and made the tiles. Often, they would have to research the culture of the par- We have a remodeling option for every budget: ReDoor ReStyle A unique Do-it-Yourself solution $1500** from New doors and end panels, paint the cabinet boxes. Thousands of custom made door choices. ticular survivor to know which images to place on the tiles. "The images they put on those tiles told that survivor's story. The tiles were very rich in detail in terms of the emotional experience they had trying to understand their survivor's story," the teacher said. The project also included a presentation for the students, who sat in a circle in class and shared their stories and tiles. "It was very heartfelt listening to these stories," Calvert said. The Grade 10 history program teaches about residential schools, but Calvert said this gives the students a deeper understanding as they learn about the schools from those who went through them. For information, visit www.projectofheart.ca. Update your existing cabinets $4900** from Get a new custom cabinet look and updated function. Better than "Refacing", costs less than replacing. Start Fresh with new custom cabinets We will create a custom design that meets your personal style, function and budget goals. CALL TODAY VISIT OUR SHOWROOM ONLINE $7900** heartsonfire.com from 905. 637. 3331 3480 Fairview St., Burlington, ON (west of Walker's Line) Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat 11-3 Free Design Consultation & Estimate Toronto | Oakville | Guelph | Waterloo knar.com KitchenTuneUp.com Try out our Free Design Tool Every Kitchen Tune-Up franchise is locally owned and operated. **Starting price examples are based on a common 10' x 10', L-shaped kitchen cabinet layout.