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Grade 5 student, Haley Paetkau raises $2,556 for Stz’uminus Community School

Paetkau raised the money by selling bracelets at her school in Victoria for Orange Shirt Day
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Peatkau recieved gifts from Stz’uminus Community school students. She will join them on their trip to Hobiyee in February (Cole Schisler photo)

Haley Paetkau, a Grade 5 student from Victoria, raised $2,556 for Stz’uminus Community School by selling bracelets at her school for Orange Shirt Day. Although Paetkau goes to school in Victoria, she wanted the money to go directly to an Indigenous school.

Orange Shirt Day is held September 30, to acknowledge residential school survivors, and bring communities together in a spirit of reconciliation and hope.

When Paetkau was in Grade 3, she noticed her school did not recognize Orange Shirt Day. She spoke with her teachers and principal about it, and they made the change.

“I felt it was important because this is Indigenous peoples land, and we should acknowledge that, and acknowledge residential school survivors” Paetkau said.

Paetkau’s father, Steve Sxwithul’txw is a residential school survivor. He attended Kuper Island residential school. Sxwithul’txw is now an accomplished film maker, with a documentary film Leave it on the Water, and his series Tribal Police Files, which is entering its third season of production.

RELATED: Penelakut filmmaker Steve Sxwithul’txw finds success in film and TV

“When she first started talking about it I was a little blown away because we never really talked about it,” Sxwithul’txw said. “It was her own ingenuity that she brought it to the attention of the teachers and the students.”

The money Paetkau raised will go towards funding a student trip to Hobiyee, a three day event honouring Indigenous youth. The event is hosted by the Nisga’a nation at Gitlaxt’aamiks or New Aiyansh village.

“Last year we went on a trip to Vancouver for singing and dancing too. 90 percent of our students have never been off Vancouver Island — never been on a BC Ferry. They’re in awe,” Stz’uminus language and culture teacher, Clinton Charlie said. “For them to travel, see the world, and say ‘hey, there’s more stuff outside the community’, and let them explore that, that’s what we want.”

Stz’uminus Community School invited Paetkau and Sxwithul’txw to their regular Friday assembly to be recognized for their donation. They were welcomed in ceremony, and given gifts from Stz’uminus students. Paetkau was invited to join Stz’uminus at Hoibyee in February.





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