Lake Babine Nation Chief Wilf Adam is standing with a local teacher who served a one-day suspension on Feb. 10, 2017.
Lakes District Secondary School teacher Rayanne Charlie organized a game of tag on June 21, 2016 for her Grade 8 drama class in which the punishment for students who lost was to be sprayed with water from a hose in front of their classmates.
According to the consent resolution agreement, two students sustained injuries playing the game - one required six stitches and the other sprained his ankle.
CBC News wrote a story last week about the suspension, saying students were not allowed to opt out of the game.
However, Chief Adam, who has two daughters taking Charlie’s class, said the game was voluntary.
“What I was told from parents and students themselves is that this was a voluntary game and people could do it under their own will,” said Chief Adam. “It sounded like what happened was very drastic; it’s unfortunate that this had to come out this way.”
“I respect Rayanne Charlie, she’s doing a wonderful job,” he continued. “I’m very supportive of the work of the drama class and I’m very dismayed at how the story unfolded.”
According to the consent resolution agreement, one student had asked to opt out of the game after losing the first round, but Charlie told her that she had to continue.
School District No. 91 and Lakes District Secondary School’s principal chose not to comment.
Lakes District News also reached out to Charlie, but she was not immediately available for a comment.