Tiles help show respect, build relationship

Tiles painted to represent a child who attended a residential school – outlined in red if they survived the residential school and in black if they did not – is a way to promote understanding. “Project of Heart provides a more in-depth look at Indian residential schools beyond the facts and historical events,” said Jennifer McGillis, SIAST Aboriginal activity centre leader, in a news release. The goals of the project are to show respect to residential school survivors and to build relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people by sharing historical information and personal experiences. Created originally by an Ottawa teacher, Project of Heart commemorates the lives of the thousands of Aboriginal children who died as a result of the residential school experience. Across Canada, primary, secondary and post-secondary schools have participated in the project, with more than 100 schools implementing Project of Heart in their classrooms.