Students sign anti-bullying treaty
School keeps the peace in Tsiigehtchic
Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
Published Monday, April 7, 2014
TSIIGEHTCHIC/ARCTIC RED RIVER
Community members reached into tradition March 31 to mark the importance of an anti-bullying campaign at Chief Paul Niditichie School.
Aiden Andre, a Grade 4 student at Chief Paul Niditchie School, was one of the students signing the treaty. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo |
Students and community members were asked to sign and witness "Treaty 12," an anti-bullying declaration at the school during an afternoon event.
The "treaty" was the brainchild of Lawrence Norbert of the Tsiigehtchic justice committee and Darcy Douglas, principal of the school. It
was to help mark an anti-bullying "pink shirt" day at the school.
Most of the people were adorned in pink T-shirts celebrating the occasion. The official Pink Shirt Day took place elsewhere in the world in February but the school chose to celebrate on a day of its choice.
"We - as parents, grandparents, guardians, relatives and students - will make a start of making peace with each other," stated the banner that was signed by dozens of people in attendance.
"We will take our fair share of responsibility for helping those who hurt, for the growth and integrity of our family, for our work and home activities, and for Tsiigehtchic as a whole. God (as we each understand God) has given us the power to choose - to make peace or not to make peace - and in doing so, has given us the freedom to be responsible for ourselves. By our signatures, we symbolize our making peace with each other."
Douglas said the idea was primarily Norbert's but the effort had been a joint one to impress the importance of treating other people with respect.
The theme was "burying the hatchet," or making peace with other, the sentiment conveyed by the long-standing cliche.
The concept to model it after the treaties signed by aboriginal peoples, including Treaty 11 signed in the hamlet many years ago, was to reinforce the importance of the occasion, and to emphasize the seriousness of the campaign, Norbert and Douglas said.
"Making peace is an uphill path," Norbert said. "And it takes two to compromise."
The pledge banner featured a broken arrow, a traditional sign of peace for aboriginal peoples.
"This treaty promises not only to make peace but to keep the peace in our community," he added. "That's in good times and bad."
The students were the first to sign the treaty, followed by parents, grandparents and other family members. Community officials signed off as formal witnesses.
The students, including Aiden Andre hustled to add their signatures, jostling each other in the process. He was joined by Jade Goose, who shyly said she liked the idea of the treaty.
