学生通过电影《印第安马》的放映来建立对加拿大原住民、美提斯族和因纽特人的基础知识。

今年秋天，詹姆斯·福勒中学的全体学生以及教师们一同观看了关于寄宿学校的影片《印第安马》。该影片改编自备受尊敬的奥吉布韦作家理查德·瓦格米斯的著作。

我们的早上始于两位自治生和联盟学生委员会（CASA）的学生为土地进行致意。接着我们播放了一段由12年级学生阿莉达C.创作的视频，视频中同时有詹姆斯·福勒的学生的配音，这些学生的家庭受到了寄宿学校的代际创伤的影响。这些学生谈到了强制同化政策导致的学校的持久遗产，以及如此众多儿童所遭受的虐待。

我们的学生对于这部影片的敏感性有着充分的准备，他们全神贯注地观看了整整100分钟的影片，并在影片结束时既流泪又鼓掌。随后，学生们还有幸听到了《印第安马》的剧本作者、备受赞誉的戏剧家、小说家和编剧丹尼斯·方的讲话。

学生们的反馈非常积极，许多学生echo了这位10年级学生的观点：

“我们在教科书上学到这些知识，但直到看这部电影，我才意识到它的影响。”

一位12年级学生补充道：“[这部电影]有助于展示拥有一个支持体系的重要性。它还展示了寄宿学校对人们产生的影响。了解这一点可以帮助开启对话，使我们团结在一起。”

我们还收到了一些家长的正面反馈：

“……我的儿子在詹姆斯·福勒中学读10年级，我想感谢您对您的土著和因纽特学生的支持，并为所有学生创造这个有意义的学习机会。这个主题可能很困难，但它非常重要，也正是我们的孩子需要体验的。”

 
剧本作者丹尼斯·方在观影结束后向观众致辞。

​Students build foundational knowledge of First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Canada through film screening of Indian Horse.

This fall, James Fowler's entire student body, along with its teachers, attended a screening of the Residential School story Indian Horse. The film is based on the award-winning novel by respected Ojibway author Richard Wagamese.

Our morning began with an acknowledgement of the land by two of our Council of Aboriginal Students and Allies (CASA) students. There followed a video created by another of our Grade 12 students, Alida C., who made a "speed paint" with voice overs by some of our own James Fowler students whose families have been impacted by the inter-generational trauma of residential schools. These students spoke to the lasting legacy of the schools resulting from the policies of forced assimilation and the all too common abuse suffered by so many thousands of children.

Our students were well prepared for the sensitive nature of the film and they watched engaged and engrossed for the full 100 minutes of the film, greeting the end of the film with both tears and applause. Following the film, students got to hear from the author of the screenplay for Indian Horse, acclaimed playwright, novelist and screenwriter Dennis Foon.

Feedback from students was incredibly positive, with many students echoing the sentiments of this Grade 10 student:

“We learn about this stuff in textbooks, but it I never realized the impact of it until this movie."

A Grade 12 student added “[the movie] helps show the importance of having a support system. It also shows the effects residential schools had on people. Understanding this can help open up conversations, bringing us together.”

We also received feedback from some parents that was very positive:

“… my son is in Grade 10 at James Fowler and I just wanted to thank you for supporting your Indigenous and Inuit students and for creating this meaningful learning opportunity for all students. The subject matter may be difficult but it is so important and exactly the kind of thing our kids need to experience.”

 
Screenplay author Dennis Foon addresses the audience after the film.