Blazing a Trail Together for our Kids
- Calvin Dubray
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
Collaborative Meeting Moves Forward Without the Minister and School District Leadership in Attendance
Esk’et, B.C.: A meeting in the community of Esk’et that was intended to include the Minister of Education and Child Care and leadership from School District 27 moved ahead on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, without the Minister and School District leadership at the table.
A withdrawal from the Minister on Friday, July 25, was followed by a withdrawal a few hours later by the School District. The last-minute change was a disappointment to the attendees, as many had taken the day off work and arranged for childcare to be at the meeting. After some discussion, Esk’etemc, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), and the Concerned Parents and Caregivers of Williams Lake (CPWL) decided the meeting should continue to move forward to honour the voices and stories of grandparents, parents, educators, Indigenous leaders, children and youth of the racial violence, discrimination, bullying, and harassment experience in School District 27, and to find a path forward.
“Together with UBCIC and CPWL, we were looking forward to hosting Minister Beare in our community after she accepted our invitation, and are disappointed she, and then the School District, withdrew from the meeting,” shared Esk’etemc Kukpi7 Fred Robbins. “We have been told the Minister’s door is open to a government-to-government meeting, so we will go back to the drawing board to figure out how quickly we can get that meeting to happen to help move forward with solutions to address racial violence and bullying in our local school district.”
The meeting’s agenda remained unchanged from the original agenda shared with the Minister and School District 27 leadership, which included a presentation of Esk’etemc history and culture, a meal together, information about the role of truth to move reconciliation forward in education, and discussion around the Safer Schools Together review. Victims, including grandparents, parents, and a student, shared emotional stories and their insights on what the culture within the schools in School District 27 is like.
Quoting the student, who won’t be named for their privacy and safety, the group heard their story: “I recently graduated from high school in another community but was previously a student in a high school in the Cariboo Chilcotin. Back when I was attending school in School District 27, I wanted to end my life because of the bullying and harassment I endured and moved for my own mental health and well-being, away from my community and my family. The experience I had at my new school in another district was completely different and free from bullying and harassment. I wanted to attend today to help share the stories of victims, me included, who were left unheard and unsupported by School District 27.”
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC President, was in attendance for the meeting, having travelled from Vancouver to Esk’et to lend his support.
“I was so honoured to be invited to Esk’et for this very important meeting,” he shared. “Racism is an ugly and deeply rooted issue that requires the collective power and unity of us all to combat and overcome it. I raise my hands to those who took these brave steps to share their stories yesterday in Esk’et. UBCIC looks forward to working together alongside Esk’etemc and Minister Beare on the fulsome implementation of the Province’s review in School District 27 and to creating meaningful solutions and lasting change for the well-being of young learners across the province.”
The group had an opportunity to discuss ‘what’s next’ on working with the Ministry and School District 27.
“We will move forward to organize that government-to-government meeting with the Minister,” shared Kukpi7. “We will also be asking to meet with the School District leadership on how we can collaborate. Change must happen, and we are blazing that trail, because each child matters.”
