Biindigen!  Welcome!

Throughout this secondary school online experience, users have a variety of areas to explore. The content and activities are connected to the Ontario Secondary Curriculum. There are many videos, activities, and accompanying slide decks for teachers to use.

All of the knowledge is contributed by Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community members. This resource aims to explore various topics and connect to the work that has been done around treaties.

A treaty is an agreement made between the First Nations and the Crown. Some of these early agreements were peace and friendship treaties. Treaties explain the rights, responsibilities, and relationships of First Nations and governments. Treaties included payments of goods, cash, land, and the promises of schools. Many included the protection of fishing, hunting, and harvester rights. Treaties are living agreements, and there are 46 of them in Ontario — almost the entire province is treaty land.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission works to inform Canadians about what happened in Indian Residential Schools. Part of this was the creation of a series of Calls to Action for the federal and territorial governments, in consultation and collaboration with Survivors, Indigenous peoples, and educators, including a call to make an age-appropriate curriculum on Indian Residential Schools, treaties, and Indigenous people’s historical and contemporary contributions to Canada a mandatory education.

Note: There are many different Indigenous languages across Turtle Island. It is important to remember that within these languages there are many dialects. We encourage you to embrace the diversity of all Indigenous languages and dialects.