Williams Lake Tribune: Minister of Education to visit Cariboo school district to discuss bullying, racism

The minister was invited to speak face-to-face about racism and bullying concerns in School District 27

Chief Fred Robbins, pictured here at an April rally, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and Melissa Coates

Esk'etemc Education Director Calvin Dubray is hoping to establish a dialogue over concerns of racism

Esk’etemc will be hosting Minister of Education and Child Care (MECC) Lisa Beare for a meeting in-community on July 30 to discuss challenges in School District 27 (SD 27). 

The meeting is being held more than three months after the community of Esk’etemc (Alkali Lake), located southwest of Williams Lake, formally extended an invitation to Beare for a face-to-face discussion around concerns of bullying and racism in SD 27. 

“This is meant to be a respectful, government-to-government meeting,” said Calvin Dubray, education director at Esk’etemc and a leading voice in recent campaigns calling for a fulsome, independent and co-developed investigation into the Cariboo Chilcotin school district. 

The invitation to Beare came in an April 14 letter signed in a joint cause by Kukpi7 (Chief) Fred Robbins, Union of BC Indian Chiefs’ Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and Melissa Coates as a representative from Concerned Parents and Caregivers of Williams Lake, now an elected trustee in SD 27. 

“Despite adhering to the procedures, the severity of our concerns has been ignored,” reads the letter, explaining how both Esk’etemc and CPWL have repeatedly asked for change in the district, only to find themselves in a maze of red tape. 

Kukpi7 Robbins has told the Tribune he’s been pushing for action in the district for over three years now to no avail. He has collected 15 videos and 32 letters from students and staff testifying about issues in the district, and CPWL has its own binder filled with testimonies. 

Allegations of physical violence among students, insensitive, racist comments and actions from teachers and among students as well as an alleged inaction on the part of school staff, district staff and the ministry in the face of such incidents is part of what the groups said has ballooned into a crisis in the school district.

Last September, the ministry ordered a review of the school district’s community and culture to be conducted by “provincial safety experts” Safer Schools Together (SST), a summary of which was made available to the public in late spring. 

The review, however, has been heavily criticized by Esk’etemc and CPWL on several points. On April 14, the group said it launched its own survey, and the results would be made public if an investigation was not moved forward with. 

After a brief in-person meeting with ministry staff on April 23 and a virtual meeting with the minister on May 12, the parties have confirmed a meeting will be held in Esk'et at the end of July. 

“We’re hoping we can establish more dialogue on what’s been happening,” Dubray said. 

He confirmed local MLA Lorne Doerkson will be attending the meeting, as well as Grand Chief Phillip. CPWL representatives are expecting to attend, and SD 27 superintendent Cheryl Lenardon said she will be present. 

“I’m just really pleased that we’ve been invited to attend as well,” said Lenardon. 

“That’s going to be a beginning,” Dubray said, explaining that, while the three and a half hour meeting will provide an opportunity for people to share their stories, he was hoping for more time. He wants to see  action points come out of the meeting and said the groups will continue to call for an investigation.

“One thing about Truth and Reconciliation, too, and the biggest mistake, is that they want to move to the reconciliation part and not the truth part,” Dubray said. 

A full report of the SST review was recently made public, though all anonymous feedback sections were blanked out to ensure privacy. The ministry said a summary of qualitative and quantitative findings, as well as recommendations, is available in the report’s executive summary. The comprehensive review was shared with the school district board of education, and Lenardon said it tracks with the summary and its recommendations. 

• The Kuu-us Crisis Line Society is a BC Wide Indigenous toll free crisis and support line which can be reached at 1-800-588-8717.

• The Crisis Centre of BC also has a new online program called MindFlip geared towards youth in late elementary and secondary school to provide them with practical knowledge and tools to help navigate mental health and life challenges.

• Youth seeking emotional support are encouraged to visit the resources page on B.C.'s HelpStartsHere website. Call or text 9-8-8 to connect with the National Suicide Crisis Helpline, or dial 310-6789 to access the BC Mental Health & Crisis Response line. Both lines are open 24 hours a day.