Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board

Indigenous Education Month

Posted on 11/01/2024

This year’s Catholic Education Week theme, “Catholic Education: Pilgrims of Hope,” invites us to “fan the flame of hope that has been given to us” (Letter on the Jubilee Year of Hope, February 11, 2022). In the spirit of this hopeful journey, the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board reaffirms its commitment to active listening, prayer, and right action. As part of this commitment, the Board will recognize November as Indigenous Education Month to strengthen relationships and increase awareness and appreciation of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit histories, perspectives, and ways of knowing.

Events throughout November include:

Treaties Recognition Week – November 4-10

In 2016, Ontario passed the first legislation of its kind in declaring the first week of November as Treaties Recognition Week. This annual event honours the importance of treaties and helps students and residents of Ontario learn more about treaty rights and relationships. By learning more about our collective treaty rights and obligations, we can create greater understanding and nurture relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Educators are encouraged to join the conversation happening across Ontario during Treaty Week by using #TreatyON and #HWCDSBTRW.

For more information and resources, please click here.

International Inuit Day – November 7

November 7 is International Inuit Day, also known as International Circumpolar Inuit Day.

This day of recognition was created to celebrate the richness and resilience of diverse Inuit cultures and to amplify their voices. It is important to acknowledge the resilience of Inuit and how strength and adaptability has been a part of Inuit ways of knowing, being and doing.


Indigenous Veterans Day – November 8

The First Nations, Inuit and Métis of Canada have a long and proud tradition of military service to our country. Indigenous Veterans Day is observed in Canada on November 8, in recognition of Indigenous contributions to military service, particularly in the First World War, Second World War and the Korean War. National Aboriginal Veterans Day was first observed in Winnipeg on November 8, 1994, and has since spread nationwide.

For more information and resources, please click here.

Louis Riel Day – November 16

On November 16, students are invited to reflect on Louis Riel, his important role for the advocacy of the Métis Nation and his help in building the Canada we know today. November 16 is the anniversary of Riel’s execution in 1885. During that year, Riel led Métis people in the Northwest Resistance, which was a stand against the Government of Canada because it was encroaching on Metis rights and their way-of-life.

For more information and resources, please click here.