On Friday Nov 8, our whole staff will participate in Maatoomsii’Poolaiks (Children First) Indigenous Education Professional Learning Day to develop and apply foundational knowledge of Indigenous Education in the CBE. As a Board we are committed to acknowledging and responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action, which includes providing education on the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Indigenous rights, Indigenous law, and Indigenous-Crown relations (TRC Call to Action #57). When we do this, we will improve our individual and systemic practice to ensure that “CBE students who self-identify as Indigenous are supported to experience improved achievement and well-being" (CBE Education Plan). 

On Nov 8 we will focus on the “Mind” domain of the medicine wheel.  One of the attributes of the “Mind” domain is Accountability and Leadership, specifically action planning focused on learning and applying Indigenous knowledges.  This year we have layered in an important adjustment to our weekly classroom land acknowledgements which involves students making a commitment to support Reconcili-ACTION.  So far, we have been impressed by the students’ commitments which range from creating a Treaty 7 language guide that shows us how to greet someone in each Indigenous language to creating a yearlong project inspired by Indigenous photographer Esta Baker, where students use photography to capture what the land is teaching them.  We are so proud of our students and excited to see these student driven actions support our commitment to reconciliation.