Dr. Alan Ojiig Corbiere, an Anishinaabe historian from M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island and the Canada Research Chair in the Indigenous History of North America, provided very rich and detailed learning to hundreds of Halton District School Board secondary staff and senior leaders at the Oakville Conference Centre on April 24.
Dr. Corbiere addressed approximately 500 staff from across the HDSB including teachers from the departments of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies, English, French, English as a Second Language, Canadian and World Studies, Social Studies and Humanities and Family Studies, as well as Principals, Vice-principals, Superintendents of Education, Trustees and Director of Education Curtis Ennis.
Embedding the truth about Treaties in his message, Dr. Corbiere encouraged staff to learn from Indigenous experts, address their gaps in knowledge as a result of ongoing settler colonialism, and engage in Treaty education in their subject areas.
The HDSB Indigenous Rights and Education team, along with the Secondary School Programs Department, was responding to
Call to Action #62, which calls for ongoing, age-appropriate Treaty education in public education. This is made possible by ongoing professional development that centres the voices of Indigenous experts such as Dr. Corbiere. He reminded educators that, “we used to greet each other as relatives.” He called on educators to talk about the Treaty of Niagara, both the Silver Covenant Chain and the 24 Nations/Eternal Presents Wampum Belts, with staff and students throughout the HDSB.
The PD session connected directly to the
HDSB’s 2020-2024 Multi-Year Plan and the Indigenous Perspectives and Awareness Area of Focus, part of which states that the HDSB will Enhance learning about Treaty relationships, Indigenous rights, residential schools and Indigenous peoples’ contributions to Canada to fulfil the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action for education.
“Treaty education is crucial in the process of embedding Indigenous Rights in public education,” says Tammy Hardwick, Instructional Program Lead for First Nation, Metis, Inuit Education K-12.
”Dr. Corbiere’s keynote session set the stage for the day’s learning that also included breakout sessions that allowed staff to apply their understanding of Indigenous Rights and Treaties to classroom practices. This full-day of professional development, rooted in upholding Indigenous Rights in public education, follows ongoing work throughout the HDSB that supports student success and academic achievement. Staff throughout the HDSB are always reminded to plan for Indigenous students and families in all classes and school communities.”
PICTURED, left to right: Jennie Petko, Superintendent of Education, Tina Salmini, Associate Director of Education, Dr. Alan Ojiig Corbiere, an Anishinaabe historian from M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island, Curtis Ennis, Director of Education and Nick Frankovich, Superintendent of Education.
