Learning from Page to Palette for Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School World Religions Classes

Grade 11 students at Archbishop Denis O’Connor Catholic High School (DO'C) have been learning in partnership throughout their first semester in both authentic and artistic ways.                     

Students from the DO’C World Religions courses were able to present their inquiries and grow in knowledge regarding Indigenous Spirituality with author, storyteller, former educator, and current DCDSB Indigenous Advisory Circle member, Mr. Robert Cutting.             

Following visits coordinated by their school chaplain, Mr. Lee Loy, many students later shared impact reflections with members of the Academic Services team and gifted copies to Mr. Cutting to demonstrate the evidence of their rich learning over the semester particularly around reciprocity and creating community through knowledge sharing.   

As an extension of learning with authentic voice and expertise, students from Mr. Azavedo’s and Ms. Morra’s classes travelled to the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario. There, students were able to experience first-hand the impressive scale and collection of work by Indigenous artists such as Norval Morrisseau previously examined on the pages of their textbooks and through inquiry projects.

The memorable McMichael Gallery experience selected by Mr. Azavedo, surrounded the Stories from Canada program, which paired groups of students with McMichael educators who not only expanded on the context around individual works, but gave students an opportunity for experiential learning as curators for the collection using critical thinking to understand all the artistic, cultural/religious, and practical considerations that factor into an exhibit.

Gallery guides shared with students how the Stories from Canada program explores art as an expression of the personal experience which includes many cultural narratives; including legacies which are painful and others that celebrate resiliency and pride. Time to talk and explore the works of many contemporary Indigenous artists as well as an impressive collection of pieces by the Group of Seven ensued and students were able to consolidate the vibrancy of the works and the unique challenges faced by artist living throughout the lands of what is now called Canada.