November 5 to 11: 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 5 to 11, 2023. 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 as we align our commitment with our actions,” said Bruce Bourget, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. “We support the ongoing learning about the importance of treaties and the treaty relationship.”

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 at A.B. Ellis Public School will explore treaties, their meanings, the Robinson-Huron Treaty, and our collective responsibility to continue the journey of healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Information on treaties will be shared during daily announcements and discussions will continue in classrooms.

Algonquin Road Public School
During Treaties Recognition Week, students from Algonquin Road Public School will engage in age-appropriate lessons and activities designed to deepen their understanding of treaties, their associated duties, roles and responsibilities. Younger students will focus on the importance of upholding their roles in preserving the integrity of treaties. They will explore the concept of keeping a promise and the significance of honoring commitments. Older students will delve into a more advanced study of treaties, with a particular emphasis on the Robinson-Huron Treaty.

Assiginack Public School
During Treaty Recognition Week, staff and students at Assiginack Public 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.

Barrydowne College
Students at Barrydowne College will learn about treaties in the “Worldviews and Aspirations of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Communities in Canada” course. Various topics will be covered including the creation of treaties, their intent, wampum belts, and the ever-changing and evolving relationships between Indigenous communities and Canada. “Wellness Wednesday” will take place on Wednesday, November 8th. Students are invited to join a beading circle organized by teachers Sarah Cormier and Karen Gauvin to learn traditional Indigenous beadwork pattern making, sewing skills and to create a pair of beaded hoop earrings.

C.R. Judd Public School
Students from C.R. Judd Public School will participate in a series of activities to learn about treaties. Students will hear from Indigenous speakers who will share their knowledge, read books such as “We Are All Treaty People” by Maurice Switzer, and make wampum belts to understand their significance. A group of primary students will conduct an inquiry: “What can we learn about the land our school is on?” Intermediate students will learn about treaties in social studies/history. Some classes will co-create classroom treaties and others will dialogue about Indigenous voices on treaties.

Central Manitoulin Public School
Central Manitoulin Public School students will learn about local treaties through various classroom activities. Students will explore readings such as, “We Are All Treaty People”, “Treaty Tracks”, “Dakota Talks about Treaties”, and “A Promise is a Promise” by Robert Munsch. Students will explore the meaning of a promise and the importance of keeping a promise.

Charles C. McLean Public School
Charles C. McLean Public School students will explore multiple resources throughout the week, including “We Are Treaty People”. Students will also learn the Ojibwe version of “O Canada” and the meaning of the words in the song. All week, students are welcome to “rock their mocs”.

Copper Cliff Public School
Throughout the week, students from Copper Cliff Public School will explore treaties and their meanings. Information will also be shared during morning announcements, and dialogues will continue in all classrooms.

Lansdowne Public School
Students from Lansdowne Public School will learn about treaty rights and relationships through classroom learning activities, including wampum belt making and read-alouds of Robert Munsch’s “A Promise is a Promise” and the Kelly Crawford books “Alex Shares his Wampum Belt” and “Dakota Talks about Treaties”. Some classes will create their own treaties, and others will use the Anishinabek Nation’s interactive online resources to deepen their knowledge of treaties.

Larchwood Public School
Treaty Recognition Week at Larchwood Public School is a vital step towards honoring the historical agreements between Indigenous peoples and the Crown. This week-long observance offers an opportunity for students and staff to promote reconciliation. Throughout the week, students will deepen their knowledge of treaties during morning announcements and classroom lessons. All classes will learn about what a treaty is and the importance of wampum belts. The book “We Are All Treaty People” will help guide classroom dialogue – focusing on the meaning of treaties as promises and the importance of honouring a promise.

Lasalle Secondary School
Students at Lasalle Secondary School will engage in daily opportunities for learning and reflection through a variety of lessons, morning announcements, and books including “We Are All Treaty People” by Maurice Switzer. Students will also watch videos of Indigenous speakers sharing their knowledge about the importance of treaties, treaty relationships and rights in Ontario.

Little Current Public School
Students at Little Current Public School are learning about and recognizing the importance of treaties in a variety of ways, including inquiry activities such as “What is the Robinson-Huron Treaty?” Other classes will make the connection between wampum belts and their learning with consideration of the Robinson-Huron Treaty. A variety of books and videos including “We are Treaty People” by Maurice Switzer will be used in cross-curricular learning and sharing through daily announcements.

Manitoulin Secondary School
Students in the First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Canada class will continue studying treaties, including wampum belts in the 1700s, the Royal Proclamation of 1763, the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850, the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement, and a detailed analysis of the Treaty of Manitoulin Island from 1862. A book club began Wednesday, November 1st studying “Four Voices: The Great Manitoulin Island Treaty of 1862” by Shelley J. Pearen led by Indigenous grad coach and student success teacher Dianne Glasby-Debassige. A school-wide feast took place on Wednesday, November 1st during lunch with teachings on Jiibay-inaakewin – Feast of the Dead. A Taco Sale will be enjoyed by all on Thursday, November 9th with students of the Three Fires Council preparing the meal. The transition class will make dreamcatchers. A beeswax and Balsam Poplar Salve-Minigun was prepared with students in the Grade 12 Human Lifespan and Development class with guests Godfrey Shawanda and Courtney/Migizikwe Kurek. Each participant took home a small jar to enjoy in the winter months ahead. A treaty display will be posted in the Three Fires Room with resources about Indigenous Veterans who will be honoured on Wednesday, November 8th. Students are welcome to “rock their mocs” throughout the week.

Markstay Public School
At Markstay Public School, students in all grades will learn about the importance of treaties through stories and dialogue. Students will deepen their knowledge of treaties during morning announcements and classroom lessons. The whole school will read “A Promise is a Promise” by Robert Munsch and students will learn about treaties being promised and the importance of keeping a promise.

Monetville Public School
Students from Monetville Public School will 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” to hear Indigenous speakers Chad Solomon, Maurice Switzer, Gerry Duquette Jr., and Brenda Collins share their knowledge.

Princess Anne Public School
Princess Anne Public School students will deepen their knowledge of treaties during morning announcements and classroom lessons. Staff and students will engage in dialogue about promises. All classes will learn what a treaty is, and will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of wampum belts and the role we all play as treaty people and partners.

Queen Elizabeth II Public School
Junior students at Queen Elizabeth II Public School will read “We are all Treaty People” by Maurice Switzer, talk about treaties in the Sudbury area, and look at the map of treaties in Ontario. Classroom dialogues will take place about land acknowledgements. Staff and students will also create a land acknowledgement for Queen Elizabeth II Public School.  Primary students will engage in read alouds to help them understand the relationship between treaties and promises.

R.H. Murray Public School
Students from R.H. Murray Public School will participate in age appropriate activities in classrooms. Students will learn about Treaties being promises and the importance of keeping a promise. Classes will access Virtual Living Library events, watch “Indigenous Voices on Treaties” videos, participate in shared reading activities, and create wampum belts.

R.L. Beattie Public School
Students and staff from R.L. Beattie Public School will explore the meaning of treaties and promises through classroom activities. Dialogue and learning opportunities will deepen students’ understanding of treaties, their significance and the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Redwood Acres Public School
Students from Redwood Acres Public School will learn what treaties are, specifically that treaties are like promises, and the importance of keeping a promise. Various books will help deliver this message to students, including “We Are All Treaty People” and “Dakota Talks About Treaties”. Older students will learn about specific treaties in social studies. Grade 5 students will make a “Did You Know” bulletin board about treaties. Various classes will also make wampum belts and discuss their significance.

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Media Contact:

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