UG Celebrates National Indigenous History Month
June 1, 2023
Guelph, ON — The month of June has been recognized as National Indigenous History Month and the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) is using this month to learn about and celebrate the rich and brilliant histories, cultures and futures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples respectively.
The UGDSB is situated on the ancestral, treaty and title lands of two Anishinaabek Ojibwe Nations: the Michi Saagig of the Credit and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. This land also includes a specified tract of land granted to the Six Nations of the Grand River. We recognize that the UGDSB operating on this land is a privilege and not a right.
At the UG, we know that it is our collective responsibility to support the education of staff and students on; Indigenous Peoples, anti-Indigenous racism, colonialism and its impact today. For National Indigenous History Month, the Indigenous Education department has created a calendar with daily activities, weekly topics and extensive activities for teachers that focus on the theme of celebration.
This month the Indigenous Education department will be co-hosting a series of live-streams for K-12 classrooms as well as in-person presentations. These events will include Indigenous guests Isaac Murdoch and Shannon Paul, Tim McGregor, Dallas Squire, Darlene Schaffer, and Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk.
Isaac and Shannon will be creating a mural at the new Indigenous and Land-Based Education Centre at Island Lake Conservation Area. Dallas Squire will teach grades 7 and 8 classes about Indigenous games and the history of lacrosse at Island Lake at the beginning of June. Darlene Schaffer will be visiting schools and speaking to students about Inuit history and the Inuit people in the present day. Métis musician Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk will perform traditional fiddle music while sharing Métis history for elementary classes.
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