Never has it been more important that York Region's public school board have an Indigenous student trustee to raise awareness and promote more tolerance in schools, says Newmarket's Ashton Wood, the first student to hold the position.
It was during her term, which is ending now, that the remains of hundreds of Indigenous children were discovered at residential schools across Canada.
Wood said the discovery hit home for many people and that she and her fellow First Nations, Métis and Indigenous (FNMI) students supported each other through the grieving process.
"We're all there for each other as a community. We want to raise awareness about what's happened and make sure it doesn't go not spoken about again," said the Huron Heights Secondary School student.
She said she couldn't be more proud of having been a voice for her FNMI students at York Region District School Board.
"I am so glad that I was able to do it. I've had amazing opportunities...so many more experiences than I would have had if I didn't get the chance to be the Indigenous student trustee."
As Indigenous student trustee, 18-year-old Wood's job was to represent the Indigenous student body at school board meetings.
Wood said that being the first Indigenous student trustee allowed her to speak out not just about the concerns she and her fellow students have in school but also about the unique issues facing her community.
"I've been able to speak out more about the MMIWG (missing, murdered, indigenous women and girls) and residential schools with the opportunities I've been given. If I was in a different position and I wasn't the first, I don't think I would have had so many opportunities to speak out about it," she said.
Wood has never forgotten an incident of racism that she experienced in school when she was younger, when a fellow student cut off one of her braids on National Aboriginal Day. The braid and a pair of scissors were later discovered in her lunchbox.
Because of COVID-19, Wood participated in board meetings online but she said it only served to bring the students closer by enabling them to participate in online workshops, Traditional Teachings with Knowledge Keepers, Elders and Skilled Tradesmen.
Wood said that she wouldn't have been able to do the job without the "loads of support" she received from Indigenous Trustee Laurie Hoeg and the FNMI team.
Hoeg said that Wood has done a "fabulous job" in her role, particularly since the pandemic made meetings difficult.
"She's quite the little firecracker....she doesn't seem to mind getting out there and speaking up for things that she believes in and I really respect that about her."
Wood is an advocate for issues that affect the Indigenous community, including reconciliation, MMIWG and the water crisis.
She has plans to take law classes and graduate high school with a social justice certificate so that she can continue working for the community in her post-secondary career and beyond.
Wood hopes that the next Indigenous student trustee will help "raise our Indigenous student choices."
She said she has every confidence that the new student will be successful in the role that she originated and she will do anything she can to lend support.
The addition of permanent Indigenous trustee and Indigenous student trustee positions were approved by the York Region school board on Dec. 10, 2019.