The talking stick is a powerful tool of Indigenous nations in North America. It is  used for many things, such as ceremonies, council meetings, to settle disputes, to make a group decision, to brainstorm solutions to a problem, etc. According to one story, perhaps apocryphal, it was made in the wake of a peace deal among nations in the area of New York. One Indigenous leader, named Deganawidah, said that peace can be achieved when we listen from the heart, and speak from the heart. The talking stick is a symbol and a tool for peaceful communication.

We made a talking stick in our class to help us both listen and share. Only the person holding the talking stick may speak. All others are expected to listen to the speaker. The stick is passed in a circle to give everyone the opportunity to share. It is a tool we use to teach us to respect one another.

We found a stick on our school grounds and we drew pictures on shrinky-dinks of things that are important to us. We then attached these medallions to our stick, to represent our different identities tied together into one group. We recognise that we meet for school on the shared, un-ceded territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam nations. And we are grateful to be able to adopt this communal practice from Indigenous peoples.