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It’s not everyday that one gets a chance to share their story with others but Grade 12 student, Sacred Heart student, Michaella Moore had the opportunity to do just that recently.
She was handpicked by the Ministry of Education to speak at the First Nations, Metis and Inuit Circle of Light Conference recently held at the Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto.
Michaella’s selection to take part in the bi-annual, province-wide conference was a first for the York Catholic District School Board. She was one of 16 students from across the province who shared their stories with representatives from school boards from across Ontario.
The theme of this year's conference was Learning Together for Student Success. With this theme as a backdrop, Michaella took part in a student panel highlighting the issues students with First Nation, Metis and Inuit ancestry face and the challenges they encounter with successfully completing their high school education and moving on to post secondary education, such as university or college.
Michaella spoke about her belief that it is a positive 'attitude' that allows one to succeed in school, regardless of one's family's history and the struggles that their ancestors may have encountered.
Michaella was in good company at the conference. She was joined by special guest speakers included artist and singer Susan Aglukark, author and international teacher, Joseph Boydon and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Minister of Aboriginal affairs, the Honourable Kathleen Wynne.
The overall goal of the conference it to provide an opportunity for educators across the province to learn from one another and to share best practices and strategies on a number of Aboriginal initiatives.