Rainbow Schools participate in Treaty Recognition Week

Rainbow Schools are celebrating Treaty Recognition Week from November 7 to 11, 2016, as they continue to learn about the histories, cultures, contributions and perspectives of First Nation, Métis and Inuit peoples of Canada. Activities and lessons throughout the week will create awareness about treaties and treaty relationships.

Rainbow District School Board has provided professional learning that has included lesson plans and resources for teachers to incorporate treaty education into their classrooms. Treaty Recognition Week provides an opportunity to reflect on the importance of the treaties, deepen knowledge and build understanding.

Alexander Public School
Students at Alexander Public School will be grouped with a reading buddy to learn about, show respect for and acceptance of children who identify with various family types. Each group will discuss their learning and family traditions through stories, pictures and/or dramatizations. Students will study Ojibwe words. Classes will host a guest to discuss traditions and stories from the past.

Churchill Public School
Teachers at Churchill Public School have received a copy of the Ontario Treaties Map and the book “We Are All Treaty People” to read with students. Teachers will take part in a presentation to reflect on the materials and to help guide discussion for the junior and intermediate students. An Aboriginal Support Worker will perform a song with a hand drum that recognizes First Nation, Métis and Inuit tradition, and will distribute a poem to each student that reinforces the importance of taking care of one another.

Confederation Secondary School
Students at Confederation Secondary School have been researching and learning about various treaties through read alouds. A Creation Day took place at the school on Friday, November 4th, 2016.

Cyril Varney Public School
Students at Cyril Varney Public School will participate in a special presentation about treaties.

Lasalle Secondary School
Lasalle Secondary School will feature morning announcements throughout the week, acknowledging the traditional territory of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and offer thanks to them for allowing us to share their lands. Students will learn that the City of Greater Sudbury is within the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850. On Thursday, November 10, 2016 at noon, Lasalle will host guest speaker R. Martin Bayer on “Understanding the Treaty Relationship”. Martin Bayer was born in Sudbury and raised on the M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island.

Little Current Public School
Students at Little Current Public School participate in monthly math challenges. The challenge for November will incorporate patterns with Wampum Belts, and will include information about treaties as part of the classroom teachings.

MacLeod Public School
Students at MacLeod Public School will develop announcements to raise awareness about treaties and to share information about local First Nations communities. The announcements will be prepared collaboratively and will be shared each day throughout Treaty Recognition Week.

R.H. Murray Public School
Students at R. H. Murray Public School continue to increase their awareness of treaties with activities and weekly reflection statements that honour ancestors and the presence of the First Nations people whose lands we share. Each student will prepare a Commitment String related to the positive climate at the school. On Wednesday, November 9th, 2016 each class will learn about the significance of Wampum Belts. Staff and students will host Chief Steven Miller of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek on Thursday, November 10th, 2016 at 9:55 am. Chief Miller will talk to staff and students about the Robinson-Huron Treaty.

S. Geiger Public School
On Thursday, November 10, 2016, Alan Toulouse will visit S. Geiger Public School to share the history of treaties with students in Grades 5 to 8. Students will watch the movie Trick or Treaties. Students will continue their learning beyond Treaty Recognition Week by engaging in activities such as creating Wampum Belts in art.

Westmount Avenue Public School
Students at Westmount Avenue Public School will watch a video to increase awareness about treaties. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the significance of the video and what it represents.

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Media Contact:

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