Indigenous Studies in the UCDSB
Indigenous Education Advisory Committee (IEAC)
The Director of Education Stephen Sliwa, Superintendent of Schools Jodie Barrett, Indigenous Education Lead Bill Montgomery and representatives from our Indigenous Community (Elders, parents, students) meet two times per year to discuss and seek feedback about UCDSB's Indigenous Plan and the direction of Indigenous Education within our school board.
Indigenous Education Funding
Schools have had the opportunity to seek funding support from UCDSB to implement Indigenous studies into their classrooms, linked to the curriculum.
Schools have had, and continue to have Knowledge Keepers present to students in their schools. Some of the presentations have included “Sky Woman Falls to the Earth”, Manotick Thompson, Inuit Knowledge Keeper, Aborignal Experiences 'Spirit of Dance', Quincy Mack, Upper Mowawk First Nations, Rick Ravelle, author of I am Algonquin, and Shabot Obaadjiwan Elder Danka Brewer Loom Beading Creations at Naismith and Beckwith Public School.
Indigenizing the Mathematics Curriculum: A focus on the Inuit culture
This year, we are participating in a collaborative inquiry focused on embedding Indigenous cultures into our mathematics classroom.
The focus will be on the Inuit culture. We have had one feast in December at the Ottawa Children’s Inuit Centre hosted by Dion Metcalfe.
Our goal is to build relationships with our Inuit families and to form partnerships with the teachers and Inuit parents and extended family members to explore mathematics through the lens of Inuit culture.
We have been focusing on Indigenous culture at each of our Renewed Math Strategies days as well, encouraging all math teachers to embed Indigenous culture into their math lessons.
