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.
2023-2024 Student Achievement Plan: Indigenous Education
Please see below for some of the ways DCDSB staff and students have been engaging in learning about, and on, the land:
"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
Please see below for some of the learning DCDSB students have been participating in to get to know the land we live on:
The Contemporary Indigenous Voices in a Global Perspective is a Grade 12 course that focuses on key events, causes and effects, points of view and. the impacts of colonisation on all levels of Indigenous life and well-being.
What is the difference between Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices (NBE) and NDW? Download the comparison sheet to learn more.
Watch the video below to learn why students recommend this course:
The DCDSB acknowledges and/or promotes the following special recognition days or events related to Indigenous Education in the 2024-2025 school year.
The following are links to articles that highlight our Indigenous Education program and the work being accomplished in our schools.
Ontario's Ministry of Education has published revised curriculums which include Indigenous voices, perspectives, and diverse experiences.