Did you know DCDSB has Elementary and Secondary Indigenous Student Circles (ISC)?

Created to give Indigenous students in Grades 6 to 12 the opportunity to share their voice and culture, while meeting with other students from across the board, the ISC's also help members share and extend their learning.

Here are some initiatives the ISC's have been up to this year:

• Métis DJ Visit
• Beading Workshop
• Paddle Woodburning Art

Click here for additional information about the ISC's and how to join.

With the world changing rapidly, and given the adoption of advanced digital technologies, the Future Leaders In Training program aims to create a pathway to prepare youth for future work opportunities. for high school students in Grades 9-12.

Offered for free, students will participate in a series of hands-on workshops to grow their grow their Leadership, STEM and digital skills.

Students will also receive a certificate of completion for their participation in the program. To be eligible for this certificate, students must attend at least one out of the two Essential Skills and one out of the two Digital Skills days. 

Location: Ontario Tech University

The Essential Skills Workshops will run on the following dates from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.:

• Saturday, February 24, 2024
• Saturday, March 9, 2024

The Digital Skills Workshops will run on the following dates from 10:00 am to 2:00 p.m.:

• Saturday, March 2, 2024
• Saturday, March 16, 2024

Click here to register.

Honouring Nokomis Dibiki-Giizis.

First Nation, Inuit, Métis girls, women, those who identify as girls and women, including women on their Moon Time, are invited to come together

to honour ourselves, other women, and our relationship with Grandmother Moon.

Attendees are asked to bring water, cloth, tobacco, skirt, lawn chair, warm clothes and a blanket in cooler weather.

• Date: Monday, February 26, 2024
• Time: 6:00 p.m.
• Location: Durham Community Health Centre (115 Grassmere Ave. Oshawa, Ontario)

Click here for more information.

Honouring Mishomis Giizis with Nokomis Kathy MacLeod-Beaver.

First Nation, Inuit, Métis Peoples are welcome to join in the for Sunrise Ceremony. Tobacco and cedar will be available for your offerings.

• Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024
• Time: 7:00 a.m.
• Location: Durham Community Health Centre (115 Grassmere Ave, Oshawa, Ontario)

Click here for information.

Guided by Indigenous students, the Indigenous Youth Clubs are grounded in Indigenous land-based learning, demonstrating the intersections between Indigenous knowledge, STEM, and engineering design to Indigenous youth from Grades 1 to 12.

The free program is being offered in-person at Ontario Tech University!

The following sessions are upcoming:

Grades 9-12 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM 

• March 4, 2024 (Monday) 
• March 18, 2024 (Monday) 
• March 25, 2024 (Monday) 

Click here to register.

N’ginaajiw My spirit is beautiful / I am beautiful 

“Movement is medicine.Appreciating, respecting, and loving our bodies as they are. Our minds, bodies and spirits are beautiful.”

Join instructor Alyssa McLeod for dance fitness and Zumba.

• Dates:
• Thursdays, February 29, March 7 and 28, and April 4, 11, 18 and 25, 2024
• Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Durham Community Health Centre (115 Grassmere Ave, Oshawa, Ontario)

Click here for information.

Guided by Indigenous STEM students, elders, knowledge keepers, and other community members, the inSTEMs conference is grounded in land-based learning, demonstrating the intersections between Indigenous knowledge, STEM, and engineering design, for Indigenous youth from Grades 9 to 12.

Students will engage in workshops designed by community members as well as gain an opportunity to interact with Indigenous undergraduate STEM students to get a glimpse of the STEM student experience.

In addition to current Indigenous undergraduates, participants will also get to talk to Indigenous peoples who are currently working in the industry to discuss potential careers in STEM.

This year's theme is Traditional Knowledge & STEM: The Future for Indigenous Youth.

Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Click here to register.

Hosted by Durham Community Health Centre and open to all!

See art, culture, news stories, and politics through an Indigenous lens.

• Dates: Every Tuesday
• Time: 9:30 - 10:15 a.m.

Click here for the Zoom link to join.

Hosted by Durham Community Health Centre, Indigenous Family Night is open to First Nation, Inuit, Métis Peoples, and their families.

Join to share food, Indigenous knowledge, culture, and experiences, with programs for all ages, 0-6, 7-12, 13-17, and 18+. 

• Dates: Wednesdays until June 12, 2024
• Time: 5:00 - 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Durham Community Health Centre (115 Grassmere Ave. Oshawa, Ontario)

Click here for more information.

The Giller Foundation and Mantella Corporation have teamed up to create the Giller Mantella Scholarship.

The scholarship is for Black, Indigenous and racialized students across Canada graduating high school and interested in continued education in creative writing and literature.

The scholarship will award $10,000 to three deserving recipients each year to further their education.

Applications will open on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. and will close on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.

Click here to review eligibility requirements and to access the application.

Métis students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 are invited to apply to the Infinite Reach March Break Camp, where they will learn about the benefits of post-secondary education and enjoy cultural workshops throughout their stay.

• Infinite Reach March Break Camp runs from Sunday, March 10 to Thursday, March 14.
• Location: Canadian Ecology Centre.

Click here to apply.

Families and students are reminded that a variety of Indigenous Education information, resources and supports can be found on the Board's website, under "Programs" and then "Indigenous Education."

Click here to view the Indigenous Education page.