June is National Indigenous History Month. This month is an opportunity to learn about the diverse cultures, traditions, and experiences of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. It’s a time to honour and give voice to the stories, achievements, and resilience of Indigenous peoples across Canada, who have lived and cared for this land since time immemorial and who continue to make significant impacts, today.

During this month, we also celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21^st. This day is an opportunity to honour the histories and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada. This day is important as it gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the Indigenous peoples whose histories and cultures are rooted in this land, and whose historical impact and presence have long been ignored by Canadian society. We are now in a place where we are beginning to recognize the importance of Indigenous peoples and their contributions to what we now know as Canada. In the Limestone District School Board, it is critical that we continue to teach the truth and to make a commitment to life-long reconcili-ACTION and living in right relations with the Indigenous community whose traditional territory we are fortunate to teach and learn on.

Working in partnership with the Kingston Friendship Centre and several community organizations, the Limestone District School Board’s, Indigenous Education Team is proud to offer several opportunities for staff, students, caregivers, and the community to engage in throughout this month.

June 6^th – Self-identified Indigenous students and students enrolled in NAC10 are invited to participate in a fish scale art workshop with Cree-Métis artist, Jamie Morse. This opportunity is being funded generously by the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest through the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centre's.

June 11^th – Storytelling session by Bomgiizhik (Isaac Murdoch): “Stories of the Summer Solstice”. All classes are invited to participate in a virtual session through Zoom on June 11^th to learn about the Summer Solstice.

June 19^th – Caregivers, students, and the community are invited to attend a Public Virtual Hodinohsho:ni Governance Workshop hosted by the Woodland Cultural Centre. This workshop will be on June 19^th at 6:00 PM. The donation for this workshop helps to support the education department in creating and delivering virtual programming at the Woodland Cultural Centre. Topics covered include Hodinohsho:ni system of governance, use of Wampum, the Royal Proclamation, the Haldimand Proclamation, the Indian Act, and how these conflicted with the traditional Hodinohsho:ni Governance structure.

Join the Public Virtual Hodinohsho:ni Governance Workshop on ZOOM.

June 21^st – National Indigenous Peoples Day at City Park in Kingston. On June 21^st, staff and students are invited to attend the National Indigenous Peoples Day event in City Park from 11:00 – 4:00 PM. On this day there will be market vendors, a community services fair, food vendors, activities for children and youth, and an evening event starting at 7:00 PM in Springer Market Square featuring a concert by 2^nd Line Bluegrass. The LDSB Indigenous Education Team will be working in collaboration with the Kingston Frontenac Public Library to create buttons, play large outdoor games such as cornhole and Jenga, and other fun activities! We are thankful for the continued collaboration with the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest to help make this event possible for staff, students, and the community.