INUVIK
The Children First Society is the first group in the Beaufort-Delta to act upon one of the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC).

The Children First Society turned the ground on its Heart Garden on June 10. The garden is designed to commemorate both the survivors of the residential school system and those who died in it. Children were asked to decorate wooden hearts, which will be incorporated in the design of the garden. Participants included Ali Alhihi, left front, Lily Sommerfeld, Liv Penner, Alma Alhihi, Rebecca Blakeston and, back from left, Natasha Staples and Kade Hunter. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

The society held a groundbreaking ceremony June 10 to begin work on its "heart garden" to commemorate those children who died in the residential school system and the survivors.

Children from the centre, as well as participants in the Aboriginal Head Start program, attended the ceremony.

The centre's children had all been asked to decorate wooden hearts that will be incorporated into the garden as it is completed.

"The heart garden is in remembrance of the children of the Indian Residential Schools," said Patricia Davidson, the executive director of the centre. "We had an invitation from the TRC inviting all youth to participate in a heart garden ceremony or project. So we thought, well, we'd been planning on building a garden (at the centre). This land certainly has a connection with the residential schools, and the former students."

The centre sits on property that was previously part of the former residential schools in Inuvik.

"We thought it was an appropriate location to do something," Davidson continued. "We certainly have the young children to participate."

Davidson said she contacted some of the TRC support workers for their input on the concept and to ask whether it was an appropriate project.

"They were really excited about it, and happy we were taking it on" she said. "At this point there is no one else in the Beaufort Delta region to take on a project."

"That's not to say that there won't be more," Davidson added. "Our summers are slow to start, and projects like this tend to be more delayed than further south."

The garden will be designed as a rock garden, with a border to be built with some soil to be added within a few weeks in which to grow plants.

"We hope to be adding some native plants, such as yarrows, plants that do very well and that are pretty strong and resilient plants so that it will be continuously blooming and growing."

Davidson said she expected the ceremony would be emotional for some of the people attending the groundbreaking, many of whom either had direct ties to the residential school system or family connections.

Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Alfred Moses was on hand for the ceremony, which had been called at short notice.

"I think it's a good thing," he said.

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