For Principals and Vice Principals

A Note to School Administrators

Dear Colleagues,

Our team wants to support you leading in Indigenous Education at your school. The way to social change is through a continuous cycle of reflection and action. Engaging in Truth & Reconciliation is at the heart of our work at KPR. Here are three important questions to begin:

Reflection

1. What is the learning I need to engage in Truth & Reconciliation?

2. What is the learning my staff need to engage in Truth & Reconciliation?

3. What is the learning students (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) need to engage in Truth & Reconciliation?

Action

1. Review the Holistic Approach to Indigenous Education at KPR to get a sense of the big picture we are working toward. As a system we are in the East, so the learning in your school will begin with:

   • The Principles of Indigenous Education at KPR

   • Make the Land Acknowledgement Meaningful

   • Evaluate texts and resources for Anti-Indigenous Bias

   • Engage in the Passport to ReconciliACTION

2. Build a vision for professional learning at your school using this tool. 

   • Our consultant team is available to meet with teachers to help lead the learning. 

3. Consider ways to acknowledge significant days (in a way that is part of ongoing learning and not a one-time event). 

4. If an Elder or Knowledge Keeper visits a class at your school, take the time to say hello. This is expected and part of the protocol. 

   • Encourage staff to reach out to an Indigenous Education Consultant prior to booking a classroom visit. (The exception to this is for booking Melody Crowe, staff can contact her directly).

   • If you are looking for something for the whole school, please contact the Principal of Indigenous Education prior to booking your guest.

5. If a student or family self-identifies as First Nation, Métis, or Inuit share the opportunities available to Indigenous students. 

6. Look for ways to expand your learning. Join us for professional learning opportunities or reach out if you'd like recommendations for reading/podcasts/films.

We want to work alongside you! Our team is growing and can offer a number of supports and resources. Please contact us anytime. Thank you for your leadership!

Marsi,

Jessica Outram

Principal of Indigenous Education

Supports Available for School Teams 

The Principal of Indigenous Education is available to support school teams:

• Co-develop a professional learning plan for school staff

• Collaborate to support individual students with complex needs 

• Support Principals and Vice Principals in leading K-12 Curriculum in Indigenous Education

• Co-develop resource lists for classrooms and libraries

• Connect schools to learning opportunities in Indigenous Education

• School visits, classroom visits alongside the admin team

Contact jessica_outram@kprdsb.ca for more information.

Indigenous Cultural Competency Training (ICCT)

Indigenous Cultural Competency Training (ICCT) is launched for Senior Team, Principals, Vice Principals, some Managers and Special Education Professionals.

The OFIFC’s Indigenous Cultural Competency Training (ICCT) program enables participants to build skills, knowledge, attitudes and values essential to fostering positive and productive relationships with Indigenous people. From March 2023 to June 2023 a variety of sessions will be offered. Then in the Fall of 2023, it will be opened up to more employee groups (and for any Principals and Vice Principals who still need to attend).

Cycle 1 introduces the most relevant information needed to better serve and support Indigenous people across all sectors. Participants gain a foundational knowledge that will help them begin enhancing their relationships with Indigenous peoples. 

Training provided by: The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) represents the collective interests of 29 Friendship Centres in cities and towns across the province. Friendship Centres are places for community members and Indigenous people living in urban spaces to gather, connect with one another and receive culturally based services. Friendship Centres improve the lives of urban Indigenous people by supporting self-determined activities which encourage equal access to, and participation in, Canadian society while respecting Indigenous cultural distinctiveness. Read more about the local Friendship Centre: The Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre.

Contact Colleen Honey for information on how to register.

Build a Vision for Indigenous Education at Your School

Use this template to design a vision. Click here to make a copy or open the doc below and click 'make a copy' from the file menu.