HWDSB Trustees Unanimously Vote to Rename Ryerson Elementary School Through Indigenous-Led Process
During the June 7, 2021 Board Meeting, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Trustees voted to create an Indigenous-led process to review and potentially rename Ryerson Elementary School. The motion, which was submitted by Trustee Cam Galindo and seconded by Trustee Christine Bingham, passed unanimously. The process will be initiated in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation.
The call for change comes in the wake of the news of remains of 215 children being discovered at a Kamloops Indian Residential School. Edgerton Ryerson, who is the school’s current namesake, is an architect of Canada’s residential school system.
Residential schools involved Indigenous children being forcibly removed from their homes, families, and communities to attend state and church-led schools. They were stripped of their culture, language, and identity, creating irreversible harm from which many families still suffer.
Dawn Danko, Chair of the Board, shared the following statement:
“Trustees want to extend our heartfelt sorrow to Indigenous communities across Canada, as we have reflected on the dark truths revealed by the 215 children’s bodies found at a Kamloops Indian Residential School.
Trustees agreed we need to listen, and we are aiming to create space for Indigenous communities to determine how we can take steps toward Truth and Reconciliation.
The intent of the motion is to create an Indigenous-led process for reviewing and potentially renaming Ryerson Elementary School, as Ryerson was an architect of the residential school system.
We do not want to speak for Indigenous peoples, but wish to walk beside them – to listen and learn from their communities. Our goal is to elevate Indigenous voices as we look to consider the name of Ryerson Elementary, and review the names of all schools across our system.”
As mentioned in the message from Chair Danko and the motion itself, HWDSB will also begin an examination of all school names to ensure they align with current values and inspire students. This process will involve a review and revision of the school naming policy, with consideration for the Indigenous process that will be used for Ryerson Elementary. HWDSB will also apply human rights, decolonization, anti-racism, and anti-oppression principles when reviewing school names.
Watch the video below to see Chair Danko’s CHCH Morning Live interview, where she discusses the renaming news from the Board Meeting. You can also view Trustee Galindo and Trustee Bingham’s motion, which has been included below the video.
It passed unanimously, as amended! Ryerson Elementary School will be renamed, following an indigenous process; and all HWDSB school names will be reviewed, in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, to ensure they reflect our board’s mission, vision, values! #HamOnt #215children pic.twitter.com/PzJExsx2fn
— Cam Galindo (@Cam_Galindo) June 7, 2021
Notice of Motion Re: Renaming Ryerson Elementary School and Initiating a review of all HWDSB schools named after individuals
Submitted by: Trustee Cam Galindo
Seconded by: Trustee Christine Bingham
Board Meeting Whereas: Ryerson Elementary School is named after Egerton Ryerson, architect of the residential school system in Canada.
Whereas: The bodies of 215 children were discovered at a Kamloops Indian Residential School, confirming what many Indigenous people already knew.
Whereas: The policy that ripped Indigenous children from their families and placed them in residential schools amounted to “cultural genocide” as described by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015.
Whereas: We are still on a path to truth and reconciliation and must continue our work on Indigenous Education so that all Indigenous students and staff feel that they belong, and their identities are valued, recognized, and affirmed in our schools.
Whereas: The naming of a school should reflect HWDSB’s mission, vision, values, commitments, and community composition; provide inspiration to students; have community acceptance; be appropriate for the whole district; have local community, district, provincial, Canadian, or international significance; and, where appropriate and possible, address underrepresented groups (as outlined in the Naming of Schools Procedure Policy 2.3).
Be it Resolved: In the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, that an Indigenous process that is both locally relevant and responsive be struck to rename Ryerson Elementary School, through ethical engagement and in consultation with local Indigenous communities and key beneficiaries and stakeholders.
Further, be it Resolved: That staff initiate a review of all HWDSB schools named after individuals, in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, to ensure they reflect our board’s mission, vision, values and the application of human rights, decolonization, anti-racism and anti-oppression principles.
Updated on Tuesday, June 08, 2021.