Williams Lake Chief Addresses Staff on Truth and Reconciliation

Willie Sellars, Chief of the Williams Lake First Nation, will deliver a keynote address to staff of School District 57 on September 29, 2025. This event forms part of a series of activities commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The initiative aims to promote understanding and respect for Indigenous history and culture, coinciding with a statutory holiday observed on September 30.

During the first board meeting of the 2025-26 school year on September 10, Pam Spooner, Assistant Superintendent of Indigenous Education, outlined the day’s schedule. The Indigenous Day of Learning will take place during a non-instructional day at Prince George Secondary School, running from 08:30 to 15:30 local time. The event is recognized by the Dakelh term “Lhulh’uts’ut’en,” meaning “working together.”

The day will commence with a welcoming ceremony at 08:45, leading into Chief Sellars’s keynote address from 09:00 to 10:00. Following a brief intermission, breakout sessions will run from 10:15 to 11:30. Attendees are encouraged to bring cash to purchase food from local vendors during the lunch break from 11:30 to 12:30.

At 12:30, the event will feature a second keynote address by Andrew Stobo Sniderman, co-author of the book “Valley of the Birdtail.” This work narrates the experiences of the Waywayseecappo First Nation and the nearby settler community of Rossburn in southwestern Manitoba. After a short break, additional breakout sessions will occur from 13:45 to 15:00, concluding with cultural closing ceremonies from 15:00 to 15:30.

Spooner expressed optimism that over 1,000 staff members from the district will attend the event. There are still opportunities for community members to volunteer and facilitate workshops, with about ten additional participants needed. Of the district’s approximately 15,000 students, Spooner noted that around 4,000, or more than 30 percent, identify as Indigenous.

This day of learning not only emphasizes the importance of truth and reconciliation but also reinforces the educational district’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for all students.