Logo for the Greater Essex County District School Board. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)Logo for the Greater Essex County District School Board. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Windsor

Indigenous Support Growing At GECDSB

More resources are being dedicated to Indigenous education at the Greater Essex County District School Board as more students self identify as First Nations, Inuit or Metis.

Over 470 students within the board have identified themselves as Indigenous, up from less than 100 when the board first started the self-identification process.

Tina Decastro with the board says they have been working with these students and their families to implement programs and supports in the classroom.

"The program is growing because we have First Nations, Metis and Inuit staff within our board that can provide that programming," says Decastro.

The school board is now offering Oneida language courses for credit at two high schools, and also offers language courses for students and parents after school through community partnerships. There are also learning supports within the classroom to help honour the way Indigenous students learn.

The school board is also looking to adopt an Indigenous Education Protocol similar to ones universities and colleges in Canada have adopted. It will signify a commitment from the board that it is making First Nations, Inuit and Metis education a priority.

"It's not just the creation of the protocol that's important.  It's the action that's going to be taken after the protocol is developed in direct relation to each of the principles," says Decastro.

Decastro says the GECDSB is the only board she is aware of looking to implement such a protocol.

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