NATIVE LANGUAGE AT TNCDSB

The Northwest Catholic District School Board is made up of 5 schools consisting of 1251 students with 150 students enrolled in the Native Language Program. The Native Language Program is present in 3 schools within our board; Sacred Heart School in Sioux Lookout, St. Mary in Fort Frances and Our Lady of the Way in Stratton.

At Our Lady of the Way School, students are able to enroll in the Native Language Program as early as Kindergarten. It is imperative that we ensure First Nation, Métis, and Inuit cultures are recognized and supported within our schools.

It is the mandate of The Northwest Catholic District School Board to ensure the promotion of an excellent Catholic Education, based on gospel values for all its students and to provide quality education to Indigenous students in all schools of The Northwest Catholic District School Board. The Board will ensure that all schools will implement the curriculum principles found in the 2007 Ontario First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Education Policy Framework document that will:

increase the capacity of the education system to respond to the learning and cultural needs of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students;

provide quality programs, services, and resources to help create learning opportunities for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students that support improved academic achievement and identity building;

provide a curriculum that facilitates learning about contemporary and traditional First Nation, Métis, and Inuit cultures, histories, and perspectives among all students, and that also contributes to the education of school board staff, teachers, and elected trustees; and

develop and implement strategies that facilitate increased participation by First Nation, Métis, and Inuit parents, students, communities, and organizations in working to support academic success.

RESOURCES

Waking Up Ojibwe

The Ojibwe People's Dictionary

Reconciliation Through Education

Residential Schools in Canada - A Timeline

ADVANCING THE GOALS OF THE INDIGENOUS EDUCATION STRATEGY

Indigenous education remains a key priority for the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry of Education and school boards, working with First Nation, Métis, and Inuit partners, share the view that conditions for future success have been established through progressive collaboration and specific supports and that significant progress can be achieved.

The Ministry of Education remains committed to ensuring that each First Nation, Métis, and Inuit student has every opportunity for success. The ministry will continue to collaborate with district school boards, First Nation, Métis, and Inuit partners, and other key education stakeholders to build on the successes achieved to date.

Implementation Plan, Ontario First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Education Policy Framework, p. 19