November 3rd, 2020

Every year, the first full week of November is Treaties Recognition Week, which was initiated by Ontario’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation (MIRR) in 2016.

This year, Treaties Recognition Week is November 2 to 6, 2020.

It was introduced to honour the importance of treaties and to help Ontarians learn more about treaty rights and treaty relationships. Most of Ontario is covered by 46 treaties and other agreements, such as land acquisitions by the Crown signed between 1781 and 1930. First Nations had their own process of treaty-making that had existed for thousands of years. Treaties are legal agreements between two or more nations. Every Canadian is a treaty person and has a responsibility to the treaty relationship.

Treaties Recognition Week is a special opportunity for all Ontarians to learn about why treaties matter. By learning more about our collective treaty rights and obligations, we can create a greater understanding and nurture these relationships.

We hope our students, staff and families consider incorporating treaty information into their teaching programs and conversations not just during this week, but beyond.

We are all Treaty people.

Helpful resources:

• Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs: Treaties
• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada: Treaties and agreements
• Treaty Talk With âpihtawikosisân
• The First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Association of Ontario: Pedagogical Considerations for Treaty Education
• Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC)

How are you recognizing and learning about treaties during Treaties Recognition Week? Share with us by mentioning @wrdsb on Twitter or @wr_dsb on Instagram and using the hashtag #IndigenousWRDSB.

Categories: Learning Tags: Indigenous learning · Treaties Recognition Week