The KPDSB is a system that is committed to ongoing learning and demonstrating through our actions that Truth and Reconciliation guide the work that we do every day for our students, their families and our communities. In the fall of 2021, KPDSB Trustees passed a motion to induct a new policy and procedure entitled Indigenous Education, which outlines our commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Calls to Action, the United Nations Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the need for anti-racism efforts in all of our schools as well as other obligations we have to our students and stakeholders.
As a part of our 2020-2021 Board Action Plan for Indigenous Education, we increased the number of Elders, Knowledge Keepers and community members in our schools. We held three board-wide book studies (for staff and students) using Indigenous text and connecting with the authors themselves. We supported learning in several remote First Nations for students learning virtually by supporting the hiring of Indigenous Student Tutors. We engaged with language speakers and technology to help build language acquisition and preservation in several communities.
There was an increase of land-based learning opportunities for students in both elementary and secondary, including inviting Elders and Knowledge Keepers to share teachings, culture and traditional knowledge with our students. This fall, we began offering cultural competency training for all staff through the Four Seasons of Reconciliation and also through other system school-based learning opportunities. We also onboarded a process to further support our students using Jordan’s Principle funding.
Indigenous Education Lead, Len Gardner, focused on building Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy in schools by leading student voice circles in three elementary schools and will continue this work as we move into 2022.
At KPDSB, we believe in being humble learners to ensure that we are always following the mantra, “Nothing about us, without us.” We are grateful for the amazing partnerships in our schools and communities as well as for the guidance of our Indigenous Education Advisory Committee as we continue to work hard each day to ensure the needs of Indigenous students are met and that we are helping guide our communities in ReconcilAction.
