Halifax schools to start each day by recognizing Mi'kmaq lands

The Halifax Regional School Board has unanimously votedto introduce a statement duringmorning announcements acknowledging that its 136 schoolsare on Mi'kmaq land.

The governing board approved the motion on June 21, National Aboriginal Day.

The statement reads:"We acknowledge that we are in Mi'kma'ki, which is the traditional ancestral territory of the Mi'kmaq people."

• Cafe's simple signsends powerful message about Nova Scotia's Indigenous history

It will be read in every school within the districteach morningand as part of any of the board'sofficial ceremoniesor events. The declaration willbe introduced to schools in October, whichcoincides withMi'kmaqHistory Month.

Treaty education coming

The motion was introduced byJennifer Raven,the board representative forthe South Shore-Bedford area.

She said the October introduction isgood timing.That's when the Department of Education will introduce treaty education into the curriculum for grades primary to 12. Teachers will get the appropriate professional development for that curriculum, Raven told CBC News.

"I've been learning a lot more about ourMi'kmaqhistory," she said. "Even though I grew up in this province, we haven't had enough in our curriculum teaching us about that."

The school board consulted with theMi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre in Halifax to fine-tune the wording of the declaration, which was approved by the vote.

• 588 Toronto schools now pay daily tribute to Indigenous lands they're built on