Prince George Secondary School (PGSS) will be getting a new addition to its Aboriginal Education Outdoor Learning Space.
School District No. 57’s Board of Education approved the construction of an 8x10 wooden smokehouse on the PGSS school grounds at its May 28 regular meeting.
“For those who may not know traditional smokehouses are structures used by First Nations cultures to cure salmon,” said PGSS Vice Principal Conrad Turner during his presentation to the board. “Smokehouses are not only culturally significant but rely on traditional knowledge that highlights the understanding of how salmon impacts both the animals and forest ecosystems of which we all depend.”
Turner worked in consultation and cooperation with the Lheidli T’enneh, the district’s Aboriginal Education Department, City of Prince George, and the district's facilities department to develop the project.
“The rationale for the project is both national and local in response to the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action we seek to build student capacity for intercultural understanding empathy and mutual respect,” said Turner. “I believe that the construction of this smokehouse will help us achieve the goal of increasing Aboriginal ways of knowing as well as increasing a sense of belonging, cultural safety and identify for our Aboriginal students not only at PGSS but throughout the district.”
He said he’s been in consultation with the City of Prince George for the past eight months regarding the clean air bylaw, building code, and fire protection and the school has been given the green light as far as the city is concerned to move forward with the project.
Turner said the cost of the project would come out of PGSS’s budget, and construction can begin as early as Friday (May 31).
“As far as the plans and the drawings we are ready to go, we have all of our materials sourced and we are planning to have our students under the direction of our woodshop teacher Chris Williams build our smokehouse.”
Board Chair Tim Bennett said he thinks this is a really great project that will not only benefit PGSS, but the community as a whole.
“It really enhances the learning environment for all students at PGSS and it seems like a no brainer to me,” added Trustee Ron Polillo.
The recommendation to build the traditional smokehouse at PGSS was approved unanimously by the board.
