The Social Justice Committee at Winkler's Garden Valley Collegiate has undertaken a mission to honour and remember the lives lost of 215 children. In late May, the remains of 215 school children were uncovered in a mass grave at the site of a former Kamloops, B.C. residential school.

Teacher Ashley Martin says 215 orange flags have been placed on the front lawn of the school, along with signs, that give the community education behind the initiative, and offers resources for people to look up information on the 215 children, and learn about residential schools.

Within the circle of flags, Ashley Martin, wearing her Indigenous ceremonial skirt during Monday's ceremony. (Submitted)

Until Thursday this week, G.V.C. will also be accepting donations of children's shoes as part of the memorial. All donations will be donated to organizations within the community. Donations can be dropped off outside the front doors of the school.

With June being National Indigenous History Month, Martin says the recent discovery changed the direction of how they would highlight the month. Due to the tragic discovery in Kamloops, the first week is now geared toward honouring and remembering the 215 victims. The rest of the month with be set aside to showcase a variety of Indigenous authors, artists, and historians.

This year, for the first time at G.V.C., the school is offering a Current Topics and First Nations and Indigenous Studies Course. Martin, who identifies as a Metis woman, will be teaching the course.

Being something she was not aware of, Martin says she did not start her Indigenous journey until she herself was early on in high school. She says when she did find out, she connected with another friend and they began going to ceremony.

"I do live in Winnipeg, so when I came out to teach in Winkler, I noticed there's a big gap, and the education within that gap, to try and close that, I try to bring awareness to the Indigenous culture, the working toward allies, and I think it's very important that we all work together toward reconciliation, and we need to be allies within that." Martin says through education, she believes that can be achieved.

Meanwhile, G.V.C.'s Social Justice Committee will also be marking Pride Month in June.