Section 2.1: School Related Operations

Approved: December 19, 2006

Revised: June 2, 2026

INDIGENOUS (FIRST NATION, MÉTIS AND INUIT) VOLUNTARY SELF-IDENTIFICATION

1.0             Rationale

District School Board Ontario North East (DSB1) ensures that all students have equitable access to educational programs and strives to support all students in achieving academic success and well-being. In accordance with the Ministry of Education’s First Nation, Métis and Inuit Policy Framework, students who identify as Indigenous will have the opportunity to self-identify.  Recognizing the rights of all students who identify as Indigenous through implementation of a self-identification strategy is the first step in addressing needs.  Students experiencing gaps in their overall success, student achievement and well-being, will have access to necessary supports.  

Specific to supporting overall success of students who identify as Indigenous, DSB1 will commit to the following:

1. Set high expectations for each learner;
2. Provide engaging learning environments inclusive and respectful of traditions and culture;
3. Improve achievement scores as measured through classroom and board assessments including EQAO assessments in primary, junior and intermediate;
4. Improve student retention and graduation rates;
5. Ensure that all students who identify as Indigenous have access to various pathways;
6. Continue positive and productive relationships with families and members of First Nation communities. 
   
   

2.0             Definitions

Aboriginal Identification: Aboriginal identification refers to the definition in the Constitution Act, 1982, Section 35(2), in that “Aboriginal peoples” include “Indian, Inuit and Métis.”

First Nations: First Nations peoples include both status and non-status peoples: status refers to peoples registered under the Indian Act, holding certain rights and benefits that are not available to non-status or Métis people.

Non-Status: Non-status refers to peoples who consider themselves persons of Aboriginal descent who do not meet the criteria of the Indian Act or who, despite meeting those criteria, have not been registered as a status Indian.

Métis: Métis means a person who self-identifies as Métis, is distinct from other Aboriginal peoples, is of historic Métis Nation ancestry, and is accepted by the Métis Nation. (Source: Métis Nation Resolution, 2002)

Inuit: Inuit is a distinct group of Aboriginal people who have ancestral ties to Northern Canada (Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Northern Quebec and Northern Labrador). (Source: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

3.0             Policy

DSB1 is dedicated to ensuring that every student who identifies as Indigenous has equitable access to high-quality educational programs and the supports necessary to achieve academic excellence and personal well-being.