MNEWS INDIGENOUS HISTORY CELEBRATED AT © CRAWFORD LAKE, AND AT i HALTON SCHOOL BOARD @ DAVID LEA & dlea@metroland.com ursday, Oal Whether it's in local schools or elsewhere in the community, ed- ucation that explores the tradi- tions, cultures and histories of In- digenous peoples in n Canada has taken root in Halto: Brad Howie, the Tndigenous ed- ucation co-ordinator at Milton's Crawford Lake Conservation Ar- ea, dispenses some of his - Just a short drive from Oak- ville, the site features three recon- structed 15th-century longhouses, the Three Sisters Garden and Mashkiki Gitigan (medicine gar- den), Indigenous art exhibits, and the Nish Dish Marketeria, which serves traditional Anishnawbe The conservation area recently hosted an Indigenous food sover- cignty celebration pang tad wetne local plants, and arene ne an expanded medicine garden. Howie emphasizes that Craw- ford Lake is a welcoming and in- clusive space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike to come and ee nThese programs are impor- tant because when I was up, the only way learned about In- digenous education or anything text of the ‘pio in the context of Europeans arriv- ing, colonizing and that's when Canada started—no focus on any- CY oakvitte ‘SEEKING TO SHARE UNTO TORIES Graham Paine/ Metroland Indigenous education coordinator Brad Howie welcomes residents to learn about Indigenous history at Crawford Lake Conservation Area. thing that happened here before the 1600s," "said Howi “It's important to earn about the people who lived on this land and the people who still live on this land ... The Indigenous people are not justin the past here. We havea lot of current Indigenous people coming here and utilizing this space.” The Indigenous education co- ordinator noted that while ¢ one of the big focuses of Crawfc involves teaching siete about what life was like in a longhouse another focus involves teaching people about the relationship In- digenous peoples have with the earth. "I can't speak for all First Na- tions people, only to what I've learned ... Our relationship with the environment is different. It's not about resource extraction or ancestry from his mother's side of the family, said he had todo a lot of research to learn about his heri- He said the Sixties Scoop, which saw the mass removal of exploitation or policy. It's a role Indigenous children from their and responsibility-based relation- communities and their later ip. Having a good relationship adoption by white families, sig- “ theland and recognizing that nificantly impacted his family to each and every being that lives out _ the point where he couldn't 't turn importance to them for as we do," said Howie. roots. “That's really important in the He noted that while his title context of where the world i is at may be Indigenous education co- and where weareheading withthe ordinator, Indigenous Elders are human-induced climate change.” truly the best people to learn from. Howie, who has Anishnawbe “They're such wonderful teach- ers to talk to, and I am so happy I dous amount to my life," said Ho- the Halton District School icated to these subjects. The board has a multi-year strategic plan that started in 2020 and runs through 2024. It address- es five key areas of focus, including Indigenous __ perspectives awareness. The plan promotes knowledge and understanding of Indigenous perspectives and realities related to providing opportunities for a whole community approach to un- derst the impacts of colo- build inion mutual respect shared responsibility; and en- hanced learning about treaty rela- ples' contributions to Canada. Instructional program lead for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Edu- cation (K-12) Tammy Hardwick noted Indigenous voices are a sig- nificant resource the board draws upon. This education is important, Hardwick stressed, because this is a history that either hasn't been told or hasn't been told accurately. Knowing these histories and truths, she said, is essential for ev- eryone to move forward in their understanding of how this nation came to be and how we got to where we are today. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: In recognition of National Truth and Reconciliation Day (Sept. ri we wanted to explore how nous history and culture is shared and celebrated in Halton. oakville.ca i VW insidehalton.com Public notice of pesticide use The Town of Oakville intends to control weeds in medians and shrub beds along the following roadsides and parks: « Using the pesticide Finalsan Pro Commercial Concentrate containing active ingredient Soap (ammonium salt of fatty acids) Registration No. 30012 under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada). * Lakeshore Road, Church St, Robinson St, Dunn St, Reynolds St, Navy St, Thomas St, Allan St, Trafalgar Rd, Randall St, Kerr Street, Bronte Rd, East St, Nelson St, Jones St, Marine Dr. Upper Middle Road, Third Line, Dorval Drive, Neyagawa Blvd, Cornwall Rd, Dundas St., Bridge Rd, Rebecca St, within the Town of Oakville Commencing on April 18, 2022 weather permitting, and ending October 8, 2022. For further information contact: Service Oakville at 905-845-6601 Collect calls will be accepted from individuals calling long distance.