In the Guelph region, two school boards are working on new education initiatives to teach students about Indigenous issues. The Wellington Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) is currently developing an Indigenized social studies curriculum for Grades 1 through 3 that will be implemented in Fall 2023. The school board is already incorporating Indigenous content into Grade 1-3 classes and inviting guest speakers in to ensure students learn Indigenous perspectives on topics such as kinship, family, and relationships with nature. WCDSB has also replaced its traditional English course with a mandatory course on understanding contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit voices. Students in the course will read texts and listen to podcasts created by Indigenous writers and producers. Indigenous students in the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) have requested a conference on allyship that they could bring their friends to. “I want my grandchildren to see themselves reflected in the curriculum,” said Colinda Clyne, UGDSB curriculum educator for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit education. Clyne also highlighted the need for teachers to meet minimum requirements so that students hear stories other than the colonial narrative.
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