November is Indigenous Education Month in the HWCDSB. This month provides an opportunity for students and staff to celebrate and learn the history, culture, accomplishments and contemporary realities of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. Events throughout November include:
Treaties Recognition Week - November 5 -11
In 2016, Ontario passed the first legislation of its kind in declaring the first week of November as Treaties Recognition Week. This annual event honours the importance of treaties and helps students and residents of Ontario learn more about treaty rights and relationships. By learning more about our collective treaty rights and obligations, we can create greater understanding and nurture relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
For more information and resources:
www.ontario.ca/page/treaties
www.trentu.ca/TreatiesWeek
International Inuit Day - November 7
November 7 is International Inuit Day, also known as International Circumpolar Inuit Day.
This day of recognition was created to celebrate the richness and resilience of diverse Inuit cultures and to amplify their voices. It is important to acknowledge the resilience of Inuit and how strength and adaptability has been a part of Inuit ways of knowing, being and doing.
For more information and resources:
www.canada.ca/inuit-day
www.trentu.ca/InuitDay
National Indigenous Veteran's Day - November 8
This November 8th is National Aboriginal Veterans Day, a day of remembrance and commemoration of the contributions of Indigenous veterans in the First and Second World Wars, as well as the Korean War. This Aboriginal Veterans Day, we would like to express our gratitude for the contributions Indigenous veterans have made to Canada and the world. National Aboriginal Veterans Day began in Winnipeg in 1994 when Indigenous veterans were not recognized in Remembrance Day activities, and is now celebrated in many communities across Canada. Over 12,000 Indigenous people are estimated to have volunteered in all three wars, including 7,000 First Nations members, and approximately 300 died during these conflicts.
For more information and resources:
www.canada.ca/indigenousveterans-day
www.trentu.ca/education/indigenous-veterans-day
Louis Riel Day - November 16
On November 16th we reflect on Louis Riel and his important role for the advocacy of the Métis Nation and his help in building the Canada we know today. November 16 is the anniversary of Riel’s execution in 1885. During that year, Riel led Métis people in the Northwest Resistance, which was a stand against the Government of Canada because it was encroaching on Metis rights and their way-of-life.
For more information and resources:
www.metisnation.org/culture-heritage/louis-riel-day
www.trentu.ca/LouisRielDay