Eugene Reimer Middle School students in Nerlap Sidhu’s class are excited to share a project they have spent the early school year organizing and designing. Students found themselves in leadership roles using their creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork skills to prepare for the Equity Backpack exhibit. “It’s always a pleasure to work with young artists in our community, and this is doubly true when they use their talents to express their hopes for a better future and a more just society,” says Executive Director at The Reach Gallery Museum, Laura Schneider. “We’re really proud to host this project at The Reach and I commend the efforts of Eugene Reimer Middle School students. We are also pleased to support their principal and teacher, Ian Levings and Nerlap Sidhu, whose commitment to students, and to building equity and inclusion in our community, are truly outstanding.”
The Equity Backpack Project (EBP) is an inclusive K-12 curriculum that offers an alternative to Eurocentric perspectives, textbooks, and traditional curricula. It places students at the center of their learning by honoring their lived experiences, language, culture, and traditions. The EBP covers the topic of equity in all areas including ability, gender, race, class, and age, and focuses on the importance of inclusion. Students created personalized backpacks with supplies to navigate the inequities found in the world and developed ways to make the world an even better place that builds bridges between cultures
and people.
The students have shared some of their thoughts about the process and their message. How does it make you feel as an eleven or twelve-year-old to know that your work around equity and inclusion is now on display at an exhibit at The Reach Gallery Museum?
Gurshaan, a Eugene Reimer Middle School student: “it is important to have the equity backpack project at the museum so that people can learn about us and our stories. We hope that the equity backpack exhibit can start positive conversations in our community about equity and inclusion.”
Navraj, a proud Reimer Raven, shares that he feels “proud” because our class succeeded in inspiring others. Navraj explains, “This, the equity backpack exhibit, seems to be the next step in sharing our learning with our community.”
Rajvir, a grade 7 Eugene Reimer student, says “it feels amazing to have created something so inspiring and it is so cool that our equity backpacks are in an actual museum.”
Harjas shares “I feel excited because our backpacks are in a museum and other people get to learn from them.”
Why is it important to you, a middle school student, that your Equity Backpack work is shared with others?
Ellie shares “It is important because it can help others to learn the different ways to treat everyone with care, honor them, and include them.”
Harsimran shares “This project may help other kids not be bullied or treated as outsiders. This is important to me because life is not always easy and so we must treat each other with kindness and respect.”
The exhibition is on at The Reach until November 13 but the project continues to grow. Students are preparing an Equity Backpack digital exhibit they plan to share across BC and with other cities in Canada to inspire others. Reimer students continue to engage in real-world projects that are making our world even more equitable. Alongside Mrs. Sidhu, Jaxon Orth the school’s Indigenous Support Worker, and Ian Levings, School Principal, have been integral in supporting the student’s vision to make a difference in our community.
Image: Installation view of the Equity Backpack Project, on now at The Reach Gallery Museum.