A banner made of four photos. The first photo shows a group of secondary school students wearing orange Every Child Matters shirts over their school uniforms, for Orange Shirt Day. The second photo shows an Indigenous knowledge keeper showing students how to traditionally prepare a fire during camping trip. The third photo shows a student doing an exercise in class for hand-weaving traditional Indigenous shoes. The fourth photo shows a presentation by the Equity Department at the CEC in collaboration with the Special Education Department, showing a collage of student artwork of Indigenous peoples and culture.

Events

National Indigenous Veterans Day

The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) is proud to honour the lives, sacrifices, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples to Canada by recognizing National Indigenous Veterans Day on November 8.

First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples have a long history of military service in Canada, dating back to pre-Confederation times. These communities have fought with, for, and against European invaders since the time of first contact, with many able to trace their family roots to the War of 1812 and earlier conflicts. Indigenous soldiers often faced numerous barriers to serve, including racism, language challenges, and cultural differences, as well as the need to travel great distances from their communities just to enlist.

Many Indigenous recruits brought invaluable skills to the military. Those from hunting communities often possessed patience, stealth, and weapons expertise, which made them exceptional snipers and reconnaissance scouts.

Throughout November, and in conjunction with Remembrance Day, we commemorate the contributions of Indigenous Veterans and the profound impact they have had on Canada and the world. Promoting culturally responsive and relevant education is essential to dismantling racism, especially Anti-Indigenous racism, which remains a key focus for the TCDSB and its Indigenous Education, Equity, and Community Relations department. Source: Veterans Affairs Canada, 2021

A green army helmet with indigenous art painted on it.

External Websites and Resources