SIAST is providing its Regina students, faculty and staff with the opportunity to learn more about the residential school experience through Project of Heart.

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. Each week an Elder is invited to visit SIAST Wascana Campus to speak about his or her residential school experience. A tile will be 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.

Some of the painted tiles that will be a part of Project of Heart.

"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. "By welcoming Elders from our community to share their stories, we have the opportunity to learn about the lasting effects that the Indian residential schools had on the future generations."

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.

"My own father was a survivor of an Indian residential school," said McGillis, "and when I speak with classrooms I share the effect that it had on me growing up."

Project of Heart is expected to wrap up in early May. The unveiling of tiles arranged to represent the SIAST logo will occur on campus at the Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Event planned for May 8.

Project of Heart is an inquiry-based, hands-on, collaborative journey of seeking truth about the history of Aboriginal people in Canada. Through commemoration of the lives of thousands of Indigenous children who died as a result of the residential school experience, Project of Heart examines the history and legacy of Indian residential schools in Canada.