Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman (left) presenting a gift to Nycea Hazelwood (right). (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge girl honoured for video on truth and reconciliation

Jun 27, 2019 | 6:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Nycea Hazelwood is only 10 years old, but she earned the adoration of Lethbridge City Council this week.

As part of a contest with Canada’s History for Kids, the Grade 5 Ecole Agnes Davidson student submitted a video project on truth and reconciliation.

In it, she spoke to indigenous leaders from across southern Alberta about what reconciliation is, why it is important, and what we as a country are doing about it.

“I think reconciliation is important because we wronged the First Nations through residential schools and through taking their lands and forcing them on reserves, so we need to show that we are sorry and that we recognize that we made a mistake.”

Although the contest is still ongoing, Hazelwood’s video caught the eye of Mayor Chris Spearman.

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He invited her to Monday’s council meeting to recognize her work.

“When the youngest people in your community are providing videos on topics of interests and topics of importance to the City of Lethbridge, I think it’s something special,” says Spearman. “We always want to have young people be engaged in our community and engaged in topics that might be controversial but also giving a young person’s perspective, and if we want to continue to encourage young people to be involved, we have to celebrate it when they take a risk and step out.”

The mayor presented her with a gift that included a piece of ammonite, which he says is a sort of “good luck symbol” in local indigenous cultures. See the video below.

Votes are being collected until July 1st. To see Hazelwood’s video and to submit a vote in the contest, use this link.