GUELPH – The Wellington Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) welcomed Maurice Switzer, author of the book We Are All Treaty People, to visit with Indigenous students and friends, speak at the Indigenous Family Night, and present to administrators and educators from Oct. 17 to 19.
Switzer is a citizen of the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation.
He has been a reporter, editor, and publisher at five Canadian daily newspapers, a communications director for the Assembly of First Nations and Union of Ontario Indians, an adjunct professor of communications and Indigenous Studies on the Laurentian University campus, and a member of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
He lives in North Bay, where he serves as a board member of Nipissing University, the North Bay-Parry Sound Public Health Unit, and the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre.
During his visit, Switzer helped the WCDSB learn about our shared histories through wampum belts and taught about how understanding treaties is part of our collective journey in learning about Canada and its history.
He guided educators and students to better understand the nature of treaty relationships and what it means to say “We are all Treaty People.”
“Treaty education is crucial to understanding the true history of Canada and acknowledging that the Nation-to-Nation relationship is an important part of reconciliation,” said First Nations, Métis, and Inuit education resource teacher Cathy Doucette.
“We are grateful that Maurice Switzer is coming to Wellington Catholic to share his knowledge and perspective on treaties so that we can learn more about the shared history and the responsibilities that we all have as Treaty People.”
Indigenous students and their friends gathered on Oct. 17 for a morning of relationship building, sharing, and learning together with Maurice Switzer.
Indigenous families from Dufferin Peel Catholic, Peel District, Upper Grand and Wellington Catholic District School Boards gathered on Oct. 17 at St. James Catholic High School to learn about their histories through wampum belts.
Principals and vice principals had the opportunity to learn from Switzer on Oct. 18 – some members of the WCDSB’s Indigenous advisory council, Indigenous parents and students joined Switzer in a discussion panel where they shared their perspectives on Indigenous education topics and issues.
Some WCDSB educators attended an after-school PD session hosted by Switzer on Oct. 18.
