At the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB), we are committed to educating students about Indigenous history and experiences and providing resources and supports to First Nations, Metis and Inuit students and their families. View our Indigenous language courses and Open Minds Program to learn more.
Self-identification
If you're an Indigenous student, you can self-identify to your school. Your school will use this information to provide supports and resources that can help your education.
Teaching and learning
We are committed to teaching students about First Nations, Metis and Inuit histories and current realities. Review the elementary and secondary school resources available through the Ministry of Education.
Here are some additional classroom resources you can use:
- Every Child Matters: Honouring Residential School Survivors and the ones that never made it home
- Treaties Recognition Week
- Integrating Indigenous Content into the Curriculum
- Indigenous Contributions – Indigenous Veterans Day
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Part 1
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People: Culture, Religion and Language
- Indigenous Music in the Classroom
- National Indigenous History Month – June contributions
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
Student, parent and guardian resources
Explore the resources available to Indigenous students, parents and guardians in our communities.
Indigenous Education Advisory Council
We have an Indigenous Education Advisory Council that meets throughout the year to offer parent and community input on the Board Action Plan for Indigenous Education, in addition to providing an advocacy role for parents and the community.
Land acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are on land and surrounded by water, originally inhabited by Indigenous Peoples who have travelled this area since time immemorial. This territory is within the lands honoured by the Wampum Treaties; agreements between the Anishinaabe (Ah-nish-e-naa-bay), Haudenosaunee (Hoe-den-oh-show-nee), Lenape (Le-naw-pay) and allied Nations to peacefully share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. Specifically, we would like to acknowledge the presence of the Three Fires Confederacy – Ojibwe (Oh-jib-way), Odawa (Oh-dah-wah), Potawatomi (Paw-taw-watt-oh-me) and Huron/Wendat (Wen-dat) Peoples. We are dedicated to honouring Indigenous history and culture while remaining committed to moving forward respectfully with all First Nations, Inuit and Metis.