2019 CAIS Canadian Accredited Independent Schools Heads and Chairs Conference

by Dr. Spencer Fowler

During this years CAIS conference I was

moved to tears by the welcome and healing ceremony provided by elders and members from the Six Nations and Mohawk territories. The language, culture, traditions, and respect for our earth were inspiring. Furthermore, their will to love, and forgive is remarkable. The tribe members were the embodiment of the conference’s theme, which was focused on community well-being.

I would suggest that much of the amount of success that we are able to achieve The Affiliated High School of Peking University’s Dalton Academy is directly related to community well-being. For us, that means we are all respected and loved for our own uniqueness. Faculty, staff, students and parents work together. We share a sense of family and believe in what we are doing, which is work that has great impact and extends beyond our institutions and the individuals we serve.

While our work is never finished, it is my hope that we can continue to open our hearts to one another and continue building stronger connections to our local and global communities.

A touching performance by a member from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory that sought to heal wounds built up over centuries.