First Nation Métis and Inuit Education

The Durham District School Board (DDSB) has an Indigenous Education department. This department strives to fulfill the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliations Calls to Action and raise awareness of Indigenous history, perspectives and contributions in a holistic and integrated approach. The department hopes to strengthen students' sense of identity, foster positive self-image, and engage community members and organizations in an ongoing dialogue.

Initiatives include:

The First Nation, Métis and Inuit Education Advisory Circle

The Advisory Circle meets throughout the school year to discuss and co-plan Indigenous Education initiatives in the DDSB. The committee is made up of people who represent the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, the Oshawa and Durham Métis Council, representatives from post-secondary institutions, and members of the DDSB.

Indigenous Family Network

This program is for DDSB students and family members of students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 who have First Nation, Métis and Inuit ancestry. View the program calendar for exact dates and times of program meetings at G.L. Roberts Collegiate and Vocational Institute.

Self-identification

The Ontario Ministry of Education directive identifies Indigenous Education as one of its key priorities and outlines strategies on how to improve achievement among Indigenous students. It also aims to bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in literacy, numeracy, retention in schools, graduation rates and moving on to post-secondary studies.

The Self-Identification program is voluntary and confidential. Filling out the DDSB Voluntary, Confidential Aboriginal Student Self-Identification form, and self-identifying through the online registration process, assists us in supporting student achievement and well-being by allowing us to see the results and progress of self-identified Indigenous students. We share this information only with the Ministry of Education and the Education Quality Accountability Office (EQAO). We keep student information confidential under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Findings will only be reported in a collective—not individual—format to the public. 

You can get a pamphlet from your school for more information on self-identification and the self-identification form.