Students planting trees in recognition

Groups of students in SD83 will be planting trees and shrubs in recognition and in empathy of the children who did not return from the Kamloops Residential School and in recognition of Earth Day!

The tree planting projects have many partners. Primarily the B.C. Small Wetlands Association (which obtained funding from Natural Resource Canada’s Two Billion Trees by 2030 Project), Pleasant Valley Wetlands Heritage Park, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the Rail Trail Stewardship partners (Splatsin Band, North Okanagan Regional District, Columbia Shuswap Regional District), and School District No. 83 (North Okanagan-Shuswap).

BCSWA supplies trees through Sagebrush Nursery in Oliver. BCSWA collaborates with SD83 Indigenous support workers and Secwepemc Elders to create Reconciliation in Action events that include ceremonies and education on the cultural uses of the trees, based on the traditional knowledge of Secwepemc Elder Dr. Mary Thomas.  Mary’s sister was one of the missing children of KIRS.

Events planned include:

April 20 – Carlin Elementary Middle School: planting 78 trees, a mix of conifers to help filter dust and pollution from the highway and deciduous to act as a noise barrier.  Elders from Little Shuswap Band will participate in a ceremony.

April 21 – Sorrento Elementary (a Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation Wild School participant) in partnership with the Sorrento Centre: planting 50 deciduous trees and 10 shrubs.  Bonnie Thomas, daughter of Mary Thomas, is participating in the ceremony and helping to make interpretive signage.

April 22 – Len Wood Middle (a HCTF Wild School participant): planting a mix of 170 trees and shrubs at Pleasant Valley Wetland Heritage Park.

April 22 – Falkland Elementary: planting seven trees for Earth Day and a larger event planned for the fall.

April 22 – A.L. Fortune Secondary: Reconciliation in Action event planting 215 trees, a mix of conifers and deciduous, in collaboration with Splatsin and with Secwepemc Elders and dignitaries participating in a ceremony.

April 22 – Armstrong Elementary: planting two large deciduous trees with ceremony and commemorative plaque.

April 25 – North Shuswap Elementary: planting 60 deciduous trees on school grounds for bio diversification.

April 25 – Pleasant Valley Secondary: planting 25 trees along the fence and trail.

April 28 – Salmon Arm West (an HCTF Wild School participant): planting trees, a mix of conifers and deciduous, on school grounds.

Fall planting – Highland Park Elementary: 215 trees

Events will include education surrounding the benefit of trees, including:

• Creating habitat, food, nesting areas for a host of critters.
• Providing study areas, shade, wind breaks and opportunities for family recreation (making school grounds educational).
• Creating carbon absorbing “machines”. A single tree produces 260 lbs of oxygen per year and absorbs 48 lbs of carbon dioxide per year.
• Improving aesthetics on school grounds.
• Creating HOPE and a feeling of doing something positive for the environment.