Indigenous Education

Indigenous Education – Walking the Path Together 

The Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the DCDSB commitment to Walk the Path Together, require ongoing collaboration with survivors and Indigenous people to utilize Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods in classrooms and implement the curriculum which has been developed to include mandatory learning about residential schools, Treaties, and Aboriginal peoples' historical and contemporary contributions to Canada. As such, Indigenous Education is necessarily and appropriately a significant part of the context of the work of the multi-year plan. 

Strategies and Actions - Indigenous Education

Implementation:

  • Land-based initiatives.
  • Culturally relevant and responsive resources and supports.


Intended Impact:

  • Improved mental well-being. 
  • Safe spaces for Indigenous students. 
  • Staff learning around Indigenous mental health and well-being. 

Implementation:

  • Develop ongoing current resources and Professional Development (PD).
  • Bring in authentic voice (community partners) to PD sessions. 
  • Deploy ERT’s to Indigenize curricula. 
  • New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP) sessions. 
  • Vice-Principal PD series. 
  • OYAP, Robotics, Religion, Law, etc.


Intended Impact:

  • Improve student learning 
  • Build teacher capacity 
  • Enhance system capacity 
  • Improve processes

Implementation:

  • Data collection 
  • Focus on student self-identification of Indigenous ancestry at pivotal transitional times 
  • PD for school leaders 
  • Support Adult Education learners
  • Grade 8 and Grade 12 graduation celebration


Intended Impact:

  • Higher graduation rates 
  • Higher success rates for Indigenous students 
  • Increased family involvement

Implementation: 

  • Indigenous Education Circle
  • Attend local community events
  • Community partners within professional development
  • Engagement with Indigenous organizations

Intended Impact:

  • Improved relationships with our community partners
  • Improved programming working in collaboration with our community plans
  • Increased capacity building of DCDSB's Indigenous Education team

Implementation:

  • Student Indigenous Education Circles (elementary and secondary)
  • Youth leadership opportunities
  • Grade 3- 5 learning days
  • Grade 3-12 Student Voice Forum


Intended Impact:

  • Indigenous students feeling seen and heard
  • Increase leadership opportunities for Indigenous youth 

Equity Action Plan 

Details regarding Training and Staff Development and Community and Staff Engagement can be found in the 2023 – 2024 Equity Action Plan at a Glance.