Yesterday, I drove out to the Simpcw Reserve to visit the Neqweyqwelsten School. The school is just approaching its 30th anniversary. It was one of the earliest band run school formed in the province. It was started by parents who were looking to offer alternative education options to their children where there would be a greater focus on language and culture. Nearly 30 years later, the school continues to do that.
The sun was shining when I got the school, but brightness was replaced with sound when I went into the dimly gym. The whole space was filled with the beat of drumming and the pulse of young voices. Sitting in a semi-circle, students were drumming on hand drums and singing along with Joe Jules. He’s the band’s Title & Rights Researcher/Coordinator and teaches culture to the young people of the community.
I spoke with him in his basement office about his role in the band and with the students and made a video of our conversation. The conversation is about 15 minutes long but the focus on the importance of education is near the beginning of our conversation. Here is the majority of our conversation though shortened to fit on YouTube
I have many other interviews and stories from my visit to the Neqweyqwelsten School and I hope to share them in my coming posts.
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