Students and staff across the St. Clair Catholic District School Board are taking part in learning experiences for Treaties Recognition Week, which runs from Nov. 1 to 7.
The board says students will take part in treaty education and land-based learning guided by local knowledge carriers, Elders and Indigenous community partners. They will explore how treaties continue to shape life today, reflect on their own relationships with the land, consider multiple perspectives and express their learning through creative mediums such as art.
CBC filmmaker and graphic designer Derek Sands of Bkejwanong Territory created commemorative “We Are All Treaty People” flags, which will be raised at all St. Clair Catholic schools and buildings.
Cedric, Sandra and Leigh Ann Isaac of Bkejwanong Territory will help students explore the significance of the Dish with One Spoon and Two Row wampum belts, and the connection to land and relationships through story and song. Steve Tooshkenig of Bkejwanong Territory will focus on responsibility versus ownership as core principles of treaty relationships. Moses Lunham of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation will lead an Art for Action Treaty Awareness Series.
Every grade will have access to the board’s Treaty Learning Tool Kits, which include texts by Indigenous authors, land-based resources and wampum belt teaching kits.
The board says treaties are more than historical agreements and are living relationships. More information is available at fnmi.sccdsb.net/treaty-recognition.
