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Woodlands Artists of Pine Ridge This year school year Todd Jamieson (Ton Wis Ya Yaka Ton), an Oneida Woodland artist visited the Contemporary Aboriginal Voices  class (NBE 3U1) at Pine Ridge S.S. Todd, from the Oneida First Nation (Thames of London), spent an inspirational week introducing them to First Nation traditions and culture.  Aesthetically, Todd focused primarily on the tradition of First Nation Woodland style painting as well as the birth-totem system of the Oneida-Iroquois peoples.   Read the Full Story
Aboriginal Day Live Flag Contest As part of Aboriginal Peoples Television Network's (APTN) National Aboriginal Day celebrations, APTN is excited to once again launch its annual Aboriginal Day Live Flag Contest, inviting all young people ages 12 to 17 years to design a flag reflecting their perspectives on the richness and diversity of Canada's Aboriginal Peoples.
This is an excellent opportunity for your students to tap into their imaginations to create something original that shows their pride in the culture and heritage of Aboriginal Peoples. APTN is encouraging students to create a flag that represents all of Canada's Aboriginal Peoples and illustrates what National Aboriginal Day means to them. Read the Full Story
Aboriginal Student Advisory Council receives Ontario Heritage Trust, Youth Heritage Leaders Award for Cultural Heritage at Port Perry High School This prestigious award was presented to the students of the Aboriginal Advisory Council at Port Perry High School whose mission is to raise awareness about First Nation, Métis and Inuit students. This group was recognized for their efforts to ensure that Ontario's heritage remains alive and meaningful. On January 13, 2012 Scugog Mayor Mercier and Council presented the Aboriginal Student Advisory Council with certificates and pins to thank them for supporting Ontario's heritage. Read the Full Story
OCHC - Aboriginal Needs Assessment Survey The DDSB Aboriginal Education Department is a member of the Oshawa Community Health Centre (OCHC) Aboriginal Advisory Circle along with many other community partners. The OCHC is presently conducting a survey to assess the health and wellness needs of Aboriginal peoples living in and near Durham Region.  If you are of Aboriginal ancestry or a member of a family with people of Aboriginal ancestry, you are invited to participate. Completing the survey will add your voice to a growing number of people who want to see more programs and services in Durham Region to better meet their needs. Read the Full Story

Aboriginal Family Network

Now entering its fifth year, the DDSB's Aboriginal Family Network (AFN) program will take place again on Tuesday evenings at GL Roberts CVI starting October 25. It is designed for DDSB students in JK - Grade 12 who have First Nation, Métis or Inuit (FNMI) ancestry and their families. Teacher and community volunteers, Aboriginal mentors, Elders and special guests provide a warm, engaging environment where Aboriginal histories, cultures, traditions and perspectives are shared through Talking Circles, crafts, stories, teachings, food, music, games and special presentations. Our goal for this year is to establish a more formal link between the Aboriginal Family Network program and the Ministry objective of improved FNMI student achievement and success in school. Future meeting dates and times are listed in the Aboriginal Education Initiative's poster distributed to schools, as well as on the website spiritcalling.ddsbschools.ca. Registration forms are available on the Spirit Calling website or at program sessions.

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Aboriginal Education Advisory Circle

The DDSB Aboriginal Education Advisory Circle (AEAC) met on the evening of December 8, 2011.  The role of the AEAC is to assist the DDSB in integrating the Ministry of Education's Ontario First Nation, Metis and Inuit Education Policy Framework into board planning in order to increase Aboriginal student achievement and raise awareness of Aboriginal histories, cultures and perspectives for all students. The AEAC meets four times annually and members include representatives from a variety of stakeholder groups from within the Board and local Aboriginal communities.

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Upcoming Events

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Welcome to Spirit Calling

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Spirit Calling is the Aboriginal Education website for the Durham District School Board. Our objective is to keep you informed as to what our board is doing to support Aboriginal Education.  This site is designed for both for educators and families. 
We would be pleased to hear from you! If you have any comments or suggestions regarding our website, please use one of the the links below to contact our office. You could also phone Sue Lunn, Program Officer/Aboriginal Studies (905) 666-6397 or Deanna Fry, Aboriginal Education Facilitator (905) 666-6301.

 

sue_lunn@durham.edu.on.ca

deanna_fry@durham.edu.on.ca

School Community Totem Pole Creation

Claremont P.S has been involved in a school wide project that links to their community, culture and caring pillar. The Claremont P.S. family has begun the journey towards the creation of a totem pole.  To kick off the process, spark imagination and creativity, Deanna Fry, Aboriginal Education Facilitator, and Aboriginal Education Officer Sue Lunn, visited the school to teach the students about the Medicine Wheel and the Seven Grandfather Teachings. The focus of the totem pole is based on the melding of the Seven Grandfather Teachings, Stephen Covey's work and Character Education.  The process has been meticulously designed to be equitable, inclusive with a focus on local community connections and the environment.  All totem pole designs have been created by the students.  Local community artist, Luke Andrews specializes in carving wood with chainsaws and has been intimately involved in the artistic process of creating this totem pole.  Highlights in the creation of the totem pole involved a carving day with Luke Andrews. Students were involved in the painting of the totem pole.totem_pole

© Durham District School Board, Programs Department.