HomeMy WebLinkAboutAll Halifax schools to acknowledge traditional Indigenous territory in morning address - Metro Halifax - 06/21/2017 - Metro Halifax - 06/21/20176/2222017 All Halifax schools to acknowledge traditional Indigenous territory in morning address
All Halifax sclhoollls to acknowledge tiiradiiitiiionalll Iindiiigenous teirritoiry lin imoirniiing addiress
The Halifax school board passed the territorial acknowledgement unanimously on Wednesday
evening.
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By: IlHaley Ryan Metro, Published on Wed ,ruin 21 2017
A new acknowledgement that ren. I[ioostand on tradnl:ioi nalll Il lrnc1igeirilOLJ tr ririitoiry is a step in the
right direction, and signals a "new beginning," say Halifax school board members.
The Halifax Regional School Board (HRSB) unanimously passed a motion on Wednesday
evening that the acknowledgement be used in all schools during the morning commencement
address, and in board offices as part of any official ceremony or event.
The statement reads "we acknowledge that we are in Mi'kma'ki, which is the traditional
ancestral territory of the Mi'kmaq people."
Board member Nancy Jakeman thanked member Jennifer Raven for originally bringing the
idea forward, and said she hopes the declaration shows respect while educating all children on
the importance of Indigenous history, "and leads to the empowerment of our Aboriginal youth."
Mi'kmaq representative, Jessica Rose, said for Indigenous students the move will likely "help
with their sense of pride" to hear themselves identified every morning, and is a good step
towards reconciliation as long as the education is there.
http://www. m etronews.ca/news/hal ifax/2017/06/21/hal ifax-school s-acknowl edge -traditional -indigenous -territory. pri nt. htm 1 1/2
6/2222017 All Halifax schools to acknowledge traditional Indigenous territory in morning address
Rose said she's happy to see treaty education ongoing in the P-6 grades, but is looking
forward to a time when it's rolled out into the upper grades.
African Nova Scotian representative Archy Beals said he'd like to eventually see the term
"unceded" added to the territorial acknowledgement.
Board member Suzy Hansen said no acknowledgement, especially a new one, can be perfect
but it must be sincere and genuine.
"It must not be an end-all statement, but a statement for a new beginning," Hansen said.
http://www. m etronews.ca/news/hal ifax/2017/06/21/hal ifax-school s-acknowl edge-traditi onal-i ndigenous-territory. pri nt. htm 1 2/2
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