A Canadian Heritage Grant is being awarded to Lillian Berg School.
The $6,000 will allow the school to continue their work in commemorating the history and legacy of residential schools.
The money will be used to cover the costs of yard maintenance at the McIntosh Indian Residential School Memorial site, just northwest of Vermilion Bay.
The funding is also being used to purchase books and other materials concerning the history of residential schools for a community book club as well as the school.
Officials also hope to use some of the cash to host a special Orange Shirt Day ceremony next October.
In the fall of 2019, Shannon Elliott and her Grade 7/8 class visited the memorial site as part of a study of residential schools in Canada.
While at the site, the students noticed the grass was overgrown, which limited the access to it, and they felt the area deserved more care.
The class initially started making plans to go back and do some yard maintenance themselves, but their grant application was later accepted.
The Municipality of Machin agreed to provide workers and equipment to complete the work.
Elliott says “It is hoped that through this project we will achieve increased awareness of the history and legacy of residential schools, not only across Canada, but in our own backyard. Our hope is for students, staff, and community members to gain a deeper understanding of the history and legacy of residential schools and the lasting impacts they have.”
