Cayuga Secondary School
The Indigenous student lounge is on the second floor of Pauline Johnson Collegiate and Vocational School – a welcoming space open to any learner to relax, be themselves, access resources or find guidance from a caring adult. It’s also home to the Indigenous Student Association (ISA) and having the space to share ideas, plan events and brainstorm initiatives has been crucial for the students involved to find their voices as leaders and develop the ISA into something truly impactful.
“It’s important that the Indigenous Student Association is something that everyone can come to because, culturally, Indigenous people have always invited everybody to listen and learn from each other,” said Ryan Martin-VanEvery, graduation coach and cultural mentor at Pauline Johnson. “By creating the space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to learn together, it becomes a part of reconcili-action where we take what we have to reconcile and channel it into positive change.”
Last week, Pauline Johnson’s ISA was honoured with a Peace Medal, awarded by the YMCA Hamilton Burlington Brantford to recognize individuals and groups who, without any special resources, status, wealth or position, demonstrate a commitment to the values of peace through contributions made within their local, national or global communities.
“A big part of what we’re focusing on are events that engage the whole community,” said Krystal Konior, English teacher and staff advisor for the ISA, citing the annual Every Child Matters football game as one such event. That day invites intermediate students from Pauline Johnson’s feeder schools to come together with secondary students, elders, performers and community organizations to honour Residential School survivors. “Having everyone out on the field at halftime, celebrating Indigenous culture as part of a social dance together, it lets Grade 7 and 8 students see themselves here and shows them that these are our values as a school community.”
The ISA began with one dedicated student and supportive educators, and has since grown to 26 committed student members. Fostering that environment where students can collaborate and advocate is Martin-VanEvery, Konior, and educators Jill Burrows-Dadson and Taome Muntz-Flowerday guiding the way with the resources available.
“I was one of those students who attended an Every Child Matters football game at PJ when I was in Grade 8 and had an amazing experience,” said member Jordyn Barnes, currently in Grade 10. “Now, I actually get to be able to make events like it happen for other students through planning and volunteering.”
Throughout the school year, the ISA hosts fundraisers, plans workshops, field trips and peer-support activities for Pauline Johnson students, and extending opportunities to include Grade 7 and 8 students from area feeder schools.
“The significance of something like the Peace Medal is that it brings an awareness to students that small, collective actions can make a big difference,” said educator Jill Burrows-Dadson. “It might seem like, as individuals, we’re limited in what we can do, but as a collective, it’s really doing something.”
The ISA hopes to build on this momentum, and further its goals of strengthening relationships, learning together, and becoming strong leaders and advocates for positive change.
“I hope that the next generation of students at PJ can get the same experience we’ve had, learning how to communicate with each other and building skills that they’ll need in life,” said Chaudé Maracle, who is in Grade 12. “This experience has brought a lot of us out of our shells and allowed us to be that open person who doesn’t judge others, and instead can build on something with them.”
