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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T h u rs d a y , Ja n u a ry 1 1 ,2 0 1 8 | COMMUNITY S tu d en ts tak e part in m o cca sin p roject Jada Lewis photo Students and staff at Garth Webb Secondary School (GWSS) took part in a special project recently - making moccasins for babies and raising awareness and support for Indigenous families. The project is part of the school's commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission MARTA MARYCHUK mmarychuk@oakvillebeaver.com Students and staff at Garth Webb Secondary School (GWSS) took part in a special project recent­ ly - making moccasins for babies and raising aware­ ness and support for In­ digenous families. Over the past school se­ mester, students and staff handmade 64 shoes for the Da-Giiwiwaat "so they can go home" Moccasin Pro­ ject. The project is part of the school's commitment to the Truth and Reconcil­ iation Commission (TRC), says teacher-librarian Sandra Rogers, who teaches Canada and world studies at GWSS. Rogers says Grade 12 students have been re­ searching the fact that In­ digenous infants are re­ moved from their parents at birth by social services at a much higher rate than the national average. Students sewed the moccasins by hand, using materials purchased from the Da-Giiwiwaat project website. Rogers said the leather was difficult to work with and each shoe took a long time to make, but the students perse­ vered. "It was pretty amaz­ ing," Rogers said, adding that it helped that the stu­ dents knew the shoes were going to real babies and expectant mothers. Nancy Rowe, a knowl­ edge keeper with the Mis- sissaugas of New Credit First Nation and one of the founders of the moccasin project, came to GWSS to help kick the school's pro­ ject off. The moccasin project started in the fall of 2015, after a special ceremony took place in Serpent Riv­ er First Nation called the Painted Hand Ceremony. The ceremony was held to celebrate alliances be­ tween the Anishinaabeg and other nations and to pay tribute to the agree­ ments ofthepastto ensure a strong future for the children. Grand Chief Derek Ne- pinak along with Cora Morgan, First Nations family advocate from Manitoba came to the cer­ emony to ask for help with child apprehension rates in Canada, and in particu­ lar Manitoba. Rowe decided to create awareness in Ontario and Mississaugas of New Credit First Nation. Through Kinomaagaye Gaamik Lodge, the wom­ en collected and assem­ bled 40 baby eagle feathers - the number of babies tak­ en each month from just one hospital. A few months later, a high school teacher from Brampton collaborated with organizers of the Painted Hand Ceremony to start a moccasin pro­ ject. The experience was so moving for the group, that the students wanted to in­ volve more classes back at school and the class launched a campaign enti­ tled #itStartsWithUs, to spread awareness and to inspire others to get in­ volved. The Halton District School Board has been ac­ tively involved in adopt­ ing education recommen­ dations from the TRC's Calls to Action report, said Rogers. The school's adminis­ tration paid for the cost of materials, with each shoe costing $25 to make. Shoes made by GWSS students were picked up by the Native Child and Family Services of Toron­ to in early December. Since the shoes have been picked up, Rogers says GWSS students have been following up with the project by writing to elect­ ed officials as part of com­ munity outreach. BHANDARI Family Dentistry 1934 BRING IN YOUR FAMILY FOR A CHECK-UP AT OUR NEW MODERN CLINIC Dr. Vineet Bhandari provides top quality dental care in a friendly, caring environm ent w ith his team of dental professionals. 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