At Shoreline Middle School, we believe Indigenous Learning & Belonging is not an initiative, it is a responsibility we all share. It calls each of us to listen deeply, learn continuously, build meaningful relationships, and take action in ways that honour the rights, cultures, histories, languages, and enduring leadership of Indigenous Peoples. We know this work is ongoing, and we are committed to ensuring it remains woven into the fabric of our school community, shaping how we learn, how we lead, and how we care for one another every day.

Located along the beautiful Gorge Waterway on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən Peoples, represented today by the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, we recognize the privilege and responsibility of learning in a place that has been cared for since time immemorial. Our relationship with the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations is one we hold with great respect. We are grateful for the generosity, leadership, and knowledge shared by local Elders, Knowledge Keepers, families, and community members, whose guidance continues to shape our understanding of this place and who we are becoming as a school community.

As educators, we are committed to continually asking how we can create learning environments where Indigenous students see themselves reflected, celebrated, and empowered, while ensuring every learner develops an understanding of the histories, cultures, and living traditions of the First Peoples whose lands we share.

One of Shoreline’s greatest strengths is the opportunity to learn alongside community. Through partnerships with the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, the Greater Victoria School District Indigenous Education Department, local Elders, Knowledge Keepers, artists, and families, students experience learning that is grounded in relationship, place, and culture. These experiences are not separate from learning, they are part of what makes learning meaningful and connected.

Whether students are paddling together in our Big Canoe Program, learning traditional songs through drumming, creating with cedar, carving or beading, listening to stories shared by Elders, gathering at Indigenous Family Dinners, or playing Lahal, they are invited into experiences that foster respect, responsibility, curiosity, and belonging. These opportunities celebrate the enduring cultures, knowledge, and leadership of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations while strengthening relationships across our entire school community.

We are proud to host the South Island All-District Lahal Tournament, welcoming hundreds of middle and elementary students, educators, families, and community members each year to celebrate one of the oldest games on these lands. More than a tournament, it is a celebration of community, joy, teamwork, and the continued vitality of Indigenous culture. It reminds us that some of the most meaningful learning happens when people come together through shared experiences and relationships.

Our commitment to Indigenous Learning & Belonging will continue to grow and evolve. We know this work is never complete, and we embrace that responsibility with humility. We are working to build a school community where Indigenous students flourish, where every learner understands the importance of respectful relationships, and where the knowledge, leadership, and enduring presence of the First Peoples of these lands are honoured as an essential part of who we are and who we are becoming.