November 3 to 8: Rainbow Schools take part in Treaties Recognition Week

Staff and students in Rainbow Schools will continue to learn about treaties and the importance of the treaty relationship during Treaties Recognition Week from November 3 to 8, 2025. Educational activities and learning are part of Rainbow District School Board’s continued focus on truth and reconciliation.

“During Treaties Recognition Week, students will continue to deepen their knowledge and build understanding of the truth as we align our commitment with our actions,” said Bruce Bourget, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. “Ongoing learning about treaties and treaty relationships will move us forward on our path towards reconciliation.”

The Province of Ontario passed legislation in 2016 that recognizes the importance of treaties, brings awareness to treaty relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Ontario, and bridges understanding between treaty partners.

Treaties Recognition Week was implemented in response to the 94 Calls to Action identified in the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Resources were provided to schools to support classroom teaching and learning.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s happening in Rainbow Schools:

A.B. Ellis Public School – Students from A.B. Ellis Public School will explore treaties including the Robinson Huron Treaty, the meaning of treaties, as well as our collective responsibility to continue the journey of healing and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Information will be shared during daily announcements, and classroom discussions will continue with read-alouds to encourage students to make connections and ask questions. Some classes will explore the book “We Are All Treaty People” and will design wampum belts that represent friendship promises. Intermediate students will learn the significance of promises and treaties starting with a personal understanding of an agreement and expanding into the history and present-day relevance of treaties in Canada. Students will explore the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 and the One Dish, One Spoon wampum.

Alexander Public School – During Treaties Recognition Week, staff and students from Alexander Public School will engage in various learning experiences to deepen their understanding of treaties, their historical and contemporary significance, and our shared responsibilities as treaty people. Through daily announcements, classroom discussions and read-alouds, students will explore the meaning of treaties. Learning will emphasize that treaties are promises built on respect, relationship and reciprocity. Intermediate students will examine treaty rights, wampum symbolism, and will learn more about the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850. This will help students connect local treaty history to the ongoing work of truth and reconciliation, and the continuing relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Algonquin Road Public School – Students from Algonquin Road Public School will continue to build on their knowledge and understanding of treaties. Each day, students will engage in opportunities for learning and reflection during morning announcements and age-appropriate lessons within the classroom. Younger students will learn about the importance of keeping a promise and honouring commitments while older students will delve into more advanced study of treaties, specifically the Robinson Huron Treaty. Discussions will focus on the importance of understanding treaties and how this is connected to reconciliation.

Assiginack Public School – During Treaties Recognition Week, students and staff at Assiginack Public School will deepen their understanding of treaty relationships through meaningful, land-based learning. On Wednesday, November 5th, students will walk to the local treaty signing site to connect first-hand with the history and significance of treaties in their area. Students will sit on buffalo rugs and partake in a traditional pipe ceremony guided by Indigenous knowledge keepers. This experiential learning opportunity will help students reflect on the importance of honouring treaties and the shared responsibilities they represent between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Barrydowne College – Students and staff from Barrydowne College are invited to mark Treaties Recognition Week on Wednesday, November 5th from 11 am to 12 pm. A presentation will highlight the importance of treaties. Students will have the opportunity to learn two Ojibwe games – Bagese The Bowl Game and Ginebig The Snake Game. These games have long been a source of fun and relaxation while also fostering community, inclusivity and skill building. Various resources about treaties will be shared with students throughout the week.

C.R. Judd Public School – Students at C.R. Judd Public School will take part in various learning activities to recognize Treaties Recognition Week. Classes will read books such as “We Are All Treaty People” by Maurice Switzer and “A Promise is a Promise” by Michael Kusugak and Robert Munsch to explore the importance of treaties and promises. Intermediate students will deepen their understanding through social studies and history lessons, while all students will engage in discussions and videos highlighting that treaties are living promises to be respected and honoured. Each day, facts about treaties will also be shared during morning announcements to support school-wide learning and reflection.

Central Manitoulin Public School – During Treaty Week, Central Manitoulin Public School students and staff will explore treaties including the Manitoulin Island Treaty of 1836. Information will be shared during morning announcements, and classes will continue to engage in conversations, take part in wampum belt making, and will read Kelly Crawford’s book “Alex Shares his Wampum Belt” to further their understanding and deepen their knowledge of treaties and treaty relationships.

Charles C. McLean Public School – Students from Charles C. McLean Public School will engage in learning opportunities about treaties. Classes will read books such as “A Promise is a Promise” by Robert Munsch and “Alex Shares His Wampum Belt” by Kelly Crawford, watch videos including “The Story of the Dish with One Spoon”, and participate in hands-on activities such as building a wampum belt with LEGO®. Lessons will spark conversations and build understanding about treaties and what it means to enter into an agreement with someone. Students will also explore maps of Ontario and research local treaty territories.

Churchill Public School – Staff and students from Churchill Public School will mark Treaties Recognition Week in a variety of ways. Students will learn about treaty rights and relationships through classroom learning including wampum belt making and read-alouds of Kelly Crawford’s books “Alex Shares his Wampum Belt” and “Dakota Talks about Treaties”.

Lansdowne Public School – Students from Lansdowne Public School will mark Treaties Recognition Week by engaging in meaningful learning experiences that build understanding of treaties, their history and their continued importance today. Throughout the week, students will explore themes such as promises, the meaning of treaties, the Wampum Belt, local treaty territories and modern-day treaty movements. Each will help students develop a deeper appreciation for the significance of treaties and the responsibilities they represent. Lansdowne Public School is proud to provide opportunities for students to learn, reflect, and honour the commitments that continue to shape relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Lasalle Elementary School – During Treaties Recognition Week, students from Lasalle Elementary School will engage in lessons and activities designed to develop and enhance their understanding of treaties including discussions about what a promise is and why keeping a promise is important. Students will engage in classroom read-alouds that emphasize the importance of agreements and respect. Discussions will focus on the importance of understanding about treaties and how this is connected to reconciliation.

Lasalle Secondary School – Lasalle Secondary School will mark Treaties Recognition Week with daily learning opportunities for students including a morning smudge, videos, books, language learning, in-class discussions, beading and creating wampum bracelets.

Little Current Public School – During Treaties Recognition Week, staff and students from Little Current Public School will support the ongoing work and commitment to truth and reconciliation by learning about treaty rights through First Nation stories and a variety of resources.

Lockerby Composite School – Staff and students from Lockerby Composite School will honour the significance of Treaties in Ontario by joining the “Treaties Talks with Tomorrow’s Leaders” virtual event. Grade 10 History students will deepen their understanding of the importance of building relationships. On Friday, November 7th, students will learn about Francis Pegahmagabow and will honour peace and harmony in remembrance of Indigenous war veterans by participating in an Indigenous Anishinaabe dance presentation followed by a wild rice and baked scone feast.

Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School – For Treaties Recognition Week, staff and students at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School will support the ongoing work and commitment to truth and reconciliation by learning about treaty rights through First Nation stories, multi-media resources, and inquiry-based learning.

Manitoulin Secondary School – On Thursday, November 6th, civics classes will engage in “Treaty Talks with Tomorrow’s Leaders” – an interactive discussion featuring youth and leadership voices exploring what treaties mean today and how young leaders are shaping the future. Other classes will develop a better understanding about teachings while setting up a tipi and fire where they will learn about treaties, wampum belts in the 1700s, the Royal Proclamation of 1763, the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850 and the Treaty of Manitoulin Island from 1862. A school-wide feast will take place on Thursday, November 6th at lunch. Students are encouraged to bring their feast bundles consisting of cup, bowl/plate and utensils. On Friday, November 7th, first period classes will share presentations to honour Indigenous Veterans’ Day which will take place on Saturday November 8th.

Markstay Public School – At Markstay Public School, students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 will learn about the importance of treaties through stories and dialogue. Students will deepen their knowledge of treaties during morning announcements and classroom lessons. All classes will read “A Promise is a Promise” by Robert Munsch, and students will learn about treaty promises, the importance of keeping a promise, and designing Wampum Belts to represent friendship promises.

Monetville Public School – For Treaties Recognition Week, students from Monetville Public School will engage in lessons and activities designed to develop and enhance their understanding of treaties. Students will also learn about the importance of treaties, treaty rights and nurturing relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples with the “We Are All Treaty People” kit and a treaty map focused on Dokis First Nation. Students will watch videos from the “Indigenous Voices of Treaties”. Indigenous speakers Chad Solomon, Maurice Switzer, Gerry Duquette Jr., and Brenda Collins will share their knowledge.

Princess Anne Public School – During Treaties Recognition Week, students and staff at Princess Anne Public School will learn about the importance of treaties and the shared responsibilities they represent. Through classroom discussions, read alouds including “ We Are All Treaty People” by Maurice Switzer, and interactive lessons, students will explore what it means to be a treaty person and how treaties continue to shape relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Ontario.

Queen Elizabeth II Public School – Students from Queen Elizabeth II Public School will deepen their knowledge of treaties during Treaties Recognition Week through morning announcements and classroom lessons and discussions. On Friday, November 7th, all classes will gather together virtually for “Songs & Puppetry in Anishinaabemowin” – an engaging performance introducing students to language, storytelling, and music hosted by Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin.

R.H. Murray Public School – To mark Treaties Recognition Week, students from R.H. Murray Public School will participate in age-appropriate educational activities and lessons in classrooms. Students will learn about treaties as promises and the importance of keeping a promise. Classes will engage in virtual living library events, watch videos about Indigenous voices on treaties, participate in shared reading activities, and create a school-wide treaty promise.

Redwood Acres Public School – Students from Redwood Acres Public School will learn what treaties are and the importance of keeping a promise. Various texts will reinforce this message to students including “We Are All Treaty People” by Betty Lynxleg and “Alex Shares his Wampum Belt” by Kelly Crawford. Various classes will also make Wampum Belts and discuss their significance. Kindergarten students will create a collaborative art piece in response to their own collective promise and commitment to truth and reconciliation.

Valley View Public School – For Treaties Recognition Week, Valley View Public School students will read stories that explore the theme of making promises and recognize the importance of treaties and treaty rights. In the intermediate division, students will explore residential schools and Indigenous voices, connecting these stories to broader themes of truth, reconciliation and identity. This learning builds essential context to help understand the importance of treaty relationships and Canada’s responsibility to honour them. Students will examine how storytelling and narrative perspectives shape our understanding of history, considering whose voices have been heard and whose have been silenced. Through the study of different genres and forms of storytelling, students reflect on how recognizing multiple perspectives is vital to truth-telling, reconciliation, and fulfilling the intent of the treaties. A cultural team and Elder will visit Kindergarten classrooms to share stories about the Seven Grandfather Teachings which guide us to a good way of life.

Walden Public School – Students from Walden Public School will learn what treaties are, specifically that treaties are like promises and the importance of keeping a promise. Various books will help reinforce this message including Kelly Crawford’s “We Are All Treaty People” and “Dakota Talks About Treaties”. Learning opportunities will deepen student understanding of treaties, their significance and the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Westmount Avenue Public School – During Treaties Recognition Week, educators from Westmount Avenue Public School will read “This is my Treaty” by Kelly Crawford and Marci Becking. Staff will take time to reflect on how treaties are promises shared, and students will sign the pledge with a handprint signifying their commitment. The pledge will be proudly displayed in the school.

-30-

Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171 ext. 7217