Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board respectfully acknowledges that the land on which we gather and learn daily is the traditional and treaty territory of the Mississauga Anishnaabe. We make this acknowledgement to honour our relationship with the Williams Treaty First Nations of Alderville, Curve Lake, Hiawatha and Scugog Island who continue, in their ancestors footsteps, to be stewards of this land. Our school communities have much to learn from the First People as the original caretakers and stewards of these lands and waters. May we honour their teachings for the benefit of generations to come.
PVNCCDSB is committed to implementing the Ontario First Nation, Métis and Inuit Education Policy Framework (2007). The vision of this framework is that all students will have knowledge and appreciation of contemporary and traditional First Nation, Métis and Inuit traditions, cultures and perspectives.
Listen to the St. Paul Catholic Elementary School, Lakefield, choir singing Oh Canada.
First Nation, Métis and Inuit Self-identification
PVNC is committed to ensuring that the unique strengths and needs of all students are met. The Board’s mission is to educate students in faith-filled, safe, inclusive Catholic learning communities by nurturing the mind, body and spirit of all. It is of utmost importance to us to know the learners in our classrooms. We invite parents/guardians of students, and students over the age of 18, with any degree of Indigenous ancestry to self-identify.
What is voluntary First Nation, Métis and Inuit student self-identification?
It is a way for parents/guardians and students 18 years or older to inform the Board that a student is of First Nation, Métis or Inuit ancestry. For more information see Administrative Procedure AP-321 and the Voluntary Self Identification – brochure.
What are the benefits of self-identification?
First Nation, Métis and Inuit students will have access to programs, leadership opportunities and post-secondary pathways, bursaries and scholarships specifically for them.
Schools will be better informed about their Indigenous students’ achievement and well-being.
The Board will be better able to target funding and initiatives to enhance the success of all students.
How will the data be used?
Self-identification information is collected and protected by the same privacy regulations that apply to all personal information. Having this information allows the Board to consider data on enrolment, literacy, numeracy, course selection, credit accumulation and graduation rates to make informed decisions regarding the development and implementation of programs and initiatives. This information allows the Board to provide resources, services and experiences to benefit individual students, as well as to support learning opportunities for all students.
How can I self-identify?
Parents/guardians of First Nation, Métis and Inuit students and students over the age of 18 can self-identify in one of the following ways:
- Complete the form in this Voluntary Self Identification brochure and return it to your school principal
- Download, print, and return the following form to your principal:
- LSS-15 – Voluntary Self-Identification – under 18 – for students under the age of 18
- LSS-16 – Voluntary Self-Identification – over 18 – for students over the age of 18
- Identify First Nation, Métis and Inuit ancestry on the Board Elementary Registration Form and/or Secondary Registration Form
- Identify First Nation, Métis and Inuit ancestry on the Board online Kindergarten Registration form
Terms and Definitions
First Nation: Peoples, excluding Inuit, whose ancestors used and occupied traditional territories before contact with Europeans.
Métis: People of historic Métis Nation ancestry, distinct from other Aboriginal Peoples and who are accepted by the Métis Nation.
Inuit: The Indigenous people of the Arctic, the majority of whom inhabit the northern regions of Canada and other northern countries.
Voluntary Self-identification: Opportunities provided to students and parents/guardians to safely and securely specify First Nation, Métis or Inuit ancestry.
For additional information, please contact the Board’s Indigenous Education Lead, Michael Mooney, at [email protected]