Indigenous Education with DCDSB

Land Acknowledgement

We respectfully acknowledge that we, here in the Durham Region, are on the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island.

As a school board we have been expanding our knowledge about the land acknowledgement through conversations about the land and learning on the land with Indigenous community partners and knowledge holders. We have been engaging as a school community about the importance of understanding the land that we live on, our relationships with it, roles in protecting it and how we as individuals connect with the land.

Please see below for some of the ways DCDSB staff and students have been engaging in learning about, and on, the land:

Staff Learning About the Land

Below are some of the ways DCDSB staff have been engaging in learning on and about the land:

"The staff walk to the conservation area was a special time for us to pause, be together in nature and connect to the land. We learned about how the various plants can be used to support our well-being. We are striving to be more connected to nature and wanted to highlight the area for educators to bring their own students. We want to foster curiosity in our students about our living world and how crucial it is that we protect it. We were fortunate to have the Indigenous team to share their knowledge about the beautiful area and help to build our capacity as a staff. We understand that reconciliation is a continuous journey, and we have lots to learn as a community."

- Ms. Lelievre. St. Monica Catholic School

"As an educator, I believe students appreciate learning through a lived experience. Visiting Altona Forest in Pickering, the Indigenous Education team provided my students with a greater knowledge and appreciation of the land's natural resources by viewing nature through an Indigenous lens. Through this simple walk in our own backyard, students came to understand the fragility of nature and the wealth of resources one little forest provides towards maintaining health. As students viewed the power lines hovering over the forest, they came to the realization that the Indigenous fight to preserve this land and its natural resources is integral for all people."

- Ms. Prebble, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School

"I have benefitted so much from taking part in land walks to learn about Indigenous ways of knowing. In addition to the much-needed physical refresh and the sense of peace that comes from being close to the land, I have developed a deeper sense of gratitude for the abundance of gifts given to us by the Creator that we can use as we need. I am also more aware that this way of learning is something that has been missing from our more traditional curriculum and should be included for the benefit of all students."

- Mr. Jacobs, Academic Services

Student Learning About the Land

Please see below for some of the learning DCDSB students have been participating in to get to know the land we live on:

“Learning more about the plants that are in our forest that we walk by on a regular basis. Knowing more about which ones we could eat, or which ones help with certain things like our skin. There are plants that can help with eczema.” - Londyn
“It made me more aware of how humans litter and how we harm our environment, and why we need to take care of our environment.” - Tyler
“It helped us notice more about plants that I never see or really look at when I am walking by, or know that they are for.” - Ella
“Noticing that there are many different types and species and plants right in our community and why they matter to us.” - Olivia M.
“When you take something, you always give back. Let’s say you take plants or berries to eat or use for a medicinal reason. You could plant more or help the environment stay healthy. Maybe you could make sure it has enough sun and water. ” - Mya

“We discovered why Indigenous Peoples respect the land and have always tried to protect it. We learned why our land is so important for us and our future generations. We should think about our future and protecting the land for our grandchildren or we will not have a Mother Earth for them.” - Abby
"We were also taught a very valuable lesson as we were nearing the end of our walk and standing in a sharing circle. We learned that by going through the forest and learning about what vegetation can provide for us, a deeper connection between people and the earth can be created. Knowing what our class knows now, the want to protect and preserve the land is much stronger than we may have felt before. It was such a treat to be led through nature by very knowledgeable people, and to see and learn what a true gift it is to have valuable resources located just outside our classrooms." - Hannah

students sitting on snow outside

Special Recognition Days

The DCDSB acknowledges and/or promotes the following special recognition days or events related to Indigenous Education in the 2023-2024 school year.

Truth and Reconciliation Week - September 25-30
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day - September 30 (the board will recognize this date on September 29)
Treaties Recognition Week - November 5-11
International Inuit Day - November 7
National Indigenous Veterans Day - November 8
Rock your Mocs Week - November 13-17
Louis Riel Day in Ontario - November 16
National Ribbon Skirt Day - January 4
National Indigenous Languages Day - March 31
National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) - May 5
Moose Hide Campaign Day - May 2024 - exact dates to be confirmed
Indigenous Peoples History Month - The month of June

National Indigenous Peoples Day - June 21
Nunavut Day - July 9

DCDSB Indigenous Education Highlights

The following are links to articles that highlight our Indigenous Education program and the work being accomplished in our schools.

Revised Ontario Curriculums

Ontario's Ministry of Education has published revised curriculums which include Indigenous voices, perspectives, and diverse experiences. Please

Science and Technology (Grades 1-8). Key Changes Ontario Science and Technology Curriculum - Grades 1 to 8, 2022.

The Ontario Curriculum, Social Studies (Grades 1-6 ) and History and Geography (Grades 7-8).
The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 - 12: First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Studies. Note that this document includes the curriculum for the Grade 11 English course: "Understanding Contemporary First Nation, Metis and Inuit Voices" and the curriculum for the Grade 12 Indigenous Studies Course "Contemporary Indigenous Issues and Perspectives in a Global Context". Both of these courses are being offered within DCDSB as of Fall 2022.