Indigenous Rights & Education

First Nation, Métis and Inuit​ Education ​

The Ontario Ministry of Education provides funding and support to school boards to improve learning outcomes and school experiences for First Nation, Métis and Inuit students.

The HDSB is committed to:

• Promoting awareness and understanding of First Nations, Métis and Inuit history, culture, language and perspectives.
• Fostering and promoting of Voluntary and confidential Indigenous/Aboriginal  Student Self-Identification.
• Implementing culturally responsive student success initiatives that best serve the needs of our Indigenous/Aboriginal student population.
• Supporting teachers to provide Indigenous/Aboriginal perspectives through cross culture activities.
• Achieving a goal that all students have the knowledge and appreciation of contemporary and traditional First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures, histories, and perspectives.

Voluntary Self​​-Identification​

Education is a priority in improving lifelong opportunities for Indigenous/Aboriginal children and youth. Acting on this priority the Ministry of Education has identified Indigenous/Aboriginal Education as a way to address two  primary challenges:

• Improve student achievement.
• Close the gaps between Indigenous/Aboriginal and  non‐Indigenous/Aboriginal students in the areas of literacy, retention of students in school, graduation rates and advancement to post‐secondary studies.  

The Halton District School Board looks forward to the upward trend of Indigenous/Aboriginal students and families choosing to voluntarily and confidentially self-identify their children.  With this information the Board can implement culturally responsive student success initiatives that best serve the needs of indigenous students in our Board. 

Jennie Petko

Gabriela Echeverria​​