Each November, the Ottawa Catholic School Board takes time to reflect on Treaties Recognition Week. It is a special moment to honour the lasting agreements that guide relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples across Canada. These treaties remind us that community is built on respect, shared responsibility, and a willingness to learn from one another.
What Treaties Mean to Us
Treaties are more than history lessons. They are living agreements that invite us to nurture understanding and walk forward together. We say, “we are all treaty people,” because each of us has a role in reconciliation and supporting respectful connections throughout our school communities.
Commitment in Action
At the OCSB, we recognize that our schools are located on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg. The OCSB Indigenous Education team works with local partners to help students, staff, and families learn together, appreciate Indigenous cultures, and honour the voices that shape the journey to reconciliation. During Treaties Recognition Week and every week, we aim to build bridges through honest dialogue, acts of kindness, and open hearts.
Hear Fred McGregor speak about what it means to live on unceded Algonquin territory. Fred shares the history and geography of this land from an Algonquin perspective.
This Year’s Focus: Building Bridges
As we come together for Treaties Recognition Week, it’s clear that learning about treaties is a chance to open doors and nourish new beginnings. Listening and sharing strengthen our commitment to being a caring, innovative, and respectful community. Let’s build bridges daily, inspiring each other to make OCSB a place everyone feels seen and valued.
Walking Forward, Side by Side
Reconciliation is a path, not a destination. We need to walk it together with humility, curiosity, and hope. Thank you for honouring Treaties Recognition Week with us, and for everything you do to build bridges in our board and beyond.
