Greater Essex school board signs new Indigenous protocol

Education leaders signed anew protocol agreement Monday that aims to protect and enhance Indigenous culture in public schools.

Under thenew agreement,the Greater EssexCounty District School Board will hire more Indigenous teachers, reflect more Indigenous people in the curriculum and offerIndigenous language classes.

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"I'm absolutely overjoyedthat this school board has made a commitment toincreasing achievement, but also respecting the culture and the history and the perspectives in all that they do," saidLeslee White-Eye, Chief of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.

The protocol has been developed over months of work with Indigenous leaders and families. Parent Presley Wright says his children will learn more about their culture and their native languages because of the agreement.

"It's very rare to see a native person speaking their own language," he said. "I think it's needed, along with the history, in our teachings."

More than 400 students have self-identified as First Nations, Inuit orMetiswithin the school district, but the actual number is likely higher because not everyone identifies, according to school board officials.

Superintendent of educationClaraHowittsays the protocol will help build trust and acceptance, which will go a long way to making more people comfortable with self-identifying.