$4,000 of seed money for "The Hummingbird Project," which will develop a library collection for students. ILC humanities teacher Debbie Nikkel is leading the project, which will occur at the Central Saanich campus. Although, this will not just be a "regular" school library. Debbie outlined the desire for a library that reflects the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action. Her hope is that the library will be a focused collection that fosters relationship building between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students at the ILC, where these relationships are built on an understanding of culture, and a focus on positive history and affirming Indigenous community and lives. So often, this focus is absent from the public school curriculum where Indigenous education centres around historical wrongs. In the ILC's proposal for the award, they quote Richard Wagamese who says that "[When] we take the time to share stories with each other, we get bigger inside, we see each other, we recognize our kinship – we change the world, one story at a time …" This quote is the essence of what the ILC hopes to achieve through the Hummingbird Project. Ideally, students will get to use the library space as a place to connect, share and absorb stories. Stories, especially when presented in literature and media, offer both a window and a mirror for the reader. A window allows readers to learn about other identities they may not occupy, while literature also acts as a mirror for readers to see themselves represented and their lives affirmed. The library at ILC will be a collaborative project between teachers and students. Debbie emphasized the importance of student participation in the creation of the library so that they gain "a pride of accomplishment and a sense of agency." Moreover, she anticipates that this project will show students, especially Indigenous students, that they are seen and valued within the school. For students at ILC, they can be subject to feeling lesser-than or devalued in the traditional school system that simply doesn't work for them, and those feelings are something that Debbie hopes to remedy through the Hummingbird Project. A former graduate from ILC will be doing a carving for the library, students in the TASK trades program will build a cedar bookcase, and current Indigenous students will assist in selecting materials for the collection, as well as choosing a SENĆOŦEN name for the space that reflects the spirit of learning. Since, as Debbie puts it, the ILC is inherently non-traditional, this library will reflect that and include materials such as videos, poetry, short stories and Hi-Lo books (high interest books with accessible reading levels). Furthermore, students who are teen parents will also get to enjoy children's books with their kids who are in the Beacon Services daycare program at ILC. To quote the ILC's proposal for the Library Award, "For many of our Indigenous students and their families, this project is also about building trust in the school system as a place where they are valued and experience success. When students see themselves and their culture reflected in educational resources, students feel they belong and are motivated to learn." The Hummingbird project is a huge step forward for the Individualized Learning Centre. It will be more than a holder of books; the library will be part of the classroom, creating an inviting and cohesive space that fosters learning, communication, and reconciliation. As students begin a new school year, with many new challenges to face during the COVID pandemic, the Hummingbird Project will be something to look forward to. Photo, l to r: Deb Dancik of CFUW and Deborah Nikkel, ILC. By Amanda Cribdon Photography.
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