Public school board adopts land acknowledgment

Letter to parents from the Simcoe County District School Board

We are pleased to announce that the Simcoe County District School Board has implemented a daily land acknowledgement for our schools, along with a more formal acknowledgement to be used at significant school events. Our land acknowledgements were developed in consultation with local Indigenous partners and elders, and are similar to acknowledgements used by First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities.

In keeping with the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, a daily acknowledgement of the land will be read on school announcements. A land acknowledgement is an act of reconciliation and respect with, and for, the First Nations people of Simcoe County, on whose land we stand. Our daily acknowledgement states:

“Simcoe County District School Board acknowledges that we are situated on the traditional land of the Anishnaabeg people. We acknowledge the enduring presence of First Nation, Metis and Inuit people on this land and are committed to moving forward in the spirit of reconciliation and respect.”

Simcoe County District School Board staff members will be teaching our students about this acknowledgement and what it means, as part of their language and social studies/history programs, at grade appropriate levels.

Sincerely,
Peter Beacock Chair of the Board
Steve Blake Director of Education