Wellington Catholic District School Board will be welcoming Maurice Switzer, author of the book We Are All Treaty People, to visit with Indigenous students and friends, speak at the upcoming Indigenous Family Night, and present to administrators and educators over a three-day period from October 17-19, 2023.
Switzer is a citizen of the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation. At various times he has been a reporter, editor, and publisher at five Canadian daily newspapers, a communications director for the Assembly of First Nations and Union of Ontario Indians, an adjunct professor of communications and Indigenous Studies on the Laurentian University campus, and a member of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. He lives in North Bay, where he serves as a board member of Nipissing University, the North Bay-Parry Sound Public Health Unit, and the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre.
During his visit, Switzer will help Wellington Catholic DSB learn about our shared histories through wampum belts and will guide us to understand, from his perspective, how understanding Treaties is part of our collective journey in learning about the country we live in and our nation’s history. He will guide educators and students to better understand the nature of treaty relationships and what it means to say that We Are All Treaty People.
“Treaty education is crucial to understanding the true history of Canada and acknowledging that the Nation-to-Nation relationship is an important part of reconciliation,” shared Cathy Doucette, Resource Teacher First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Education K-12. “We are grateful that Maurice Switzer is coming to Wellington Catholic to share his knowledge and perspective on Treaties so that we can learn more about the shared history and the responsibilities that we all have as Treaty People.”
Attend Learning Opportunity with Maurice Switzer
Indigenous students and their friends will gather on Tuesday, October 17 for a morning of relationship building, sharing, and learning together with Maurice Switzer. Registration is open for students who self-identify as First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Wellington Catholic. Click here to register.
Indigenous families from Dufferin Peel Catholic, Peel District, Upper Grand and Wellington Catholic District School Boards will gather on Tuesday, October 17 from 5:30 - 8 p.m. at St. James Catholic High school to learn about their histories through wampum belts. Click here to register by Thursday, October 13.
Principals and Vice Principals will have the opportunity to learn from Maurice Switzer on Wednesday, October 18. Some members of the Wellington Catholic DSB’s Indigenous advisory council, Indigenous parents and students will join Maurice in a discussion panel where they will share their perspectives on Indigenous Education topics and issues.
Wellington Catholic Educators are invited to attend an after-school PD session hosted by Maurice Switzer on Wednesday, October 18 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School. Click here to register by Friday, October 13.