Learning Activity - Project of Heart

The Project of Heart (POH) was created in 2008 by Sylvia Smith, a teacher in Ottawa, Ontario. POH was designed to teach students about the impacts of Residential Schools. In 2011 through the work of Charlene Bearhead and others, the POH extended across Canada as a way to teach about Residential Schools. POH invites learners to deeply reflect on Residential Schools and create an artistic response based on their learning. Recently, POH partnered with Canada’s National Cemetery on a project that was part of 2021’s National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. As part of this, 57, 000 POH tiles each representing a child from Residential School were on display. 

In honour of the children who attended Residential Schools, we encourage you to participate in the POH activity to decorate wooden tiles in memory of Residential School Survivors and those who didn’t return home. 

For more information watch this video about, Project of Heart.

To participate and create your own commemorative title:

  • Print the name and location of a Residential School on the back of the tile in FINE TIP, BLACK, PERMANENT Sharpie Marker. (if this is for multiple classes or larger groups each group can work on specific schools or they can search online for locations of residential schools and choose one so multiple schools are touched on).
  • Colour the edges of the tile black to create a memorial for a child who died in a residential school or a colour other than black to honour an IRS survivor.  (the edge refers to the very thin edge surrounding the tile… not the front or back).
  • Decorate the front of the tile with any image, words or combination of images and words that you want to use to honour, respect and remember a child who attended Indian Residential School. 
  • Create a commemoration exhibit piece to be installed in your school, church, or any location that you find appropriate in your community so that the piece serves as a memorial to children who died in Indian Residential Schools, to honour IRS survivors and their families and to bring awareness to all Canadians who see the exhibit.
Learning Activity - Project of Heart