DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ISSUE 13 - June 2023
Moose Hide Campaign
By: Jon R
The Moose Hide Campaign is an Indigenous-led grassroots movement that stands up against violence toward women and children. Wearing moose hide signifies honor, respect, and a commitment to protecting women and children. It’s also a sign of collaboration to work together with other men and boys to help end violence against women and children.
The York school honoured the Moose Hide Campaign on Thursday, May, 11th by giving out pamphlets to raise awareness for the cause, accompanied by a piece of moose hide itself; vegan ones were also available. The genuine piece of hide is a mix of both hard and soft, firm yet flexible. It is a symbol of the rough nature of our past in Canada but the smooth outcome of a future without gender-based violence. In addition, $439 in donations was collected to support the cause.
In Canada, Indigenous women are more likely to be a victim of a crime compared to non-Indigenous women and girls and are even at a higher risk of experiencing physical or assault, and spousal violence. Even while examining other possible risk factors such as disorder in one’s community, homelessness, or high drug use, being Indigenous can be seen as a risk factor in itself. The extent of crimes against Indigenous women and the disparity between Indigenous and non-indigenous individuals is even underestimated because national police-reported crime statistics, with the exception of homicides, are not available as sorted by Indigenous identity.
There is work to do, however, our school’s recognition of the event and the 500,000 Canadians joining in ceremony and solidarity on Moose Hide Campaign day this past Tuesday, May 11th, leaves me hopeful that we’ll reach our goal of ending gender-based violence.
The York School’s Kindergarten - Grade 5 Indigenous Education Scope and Sequence
By: Sean Rand
In 2016 the Provincial Government committed to consulting Indigenous Educators and Elders in order to integrate Indigenous content into the curriculum. However, this was cancelled in 2018 right before curriculum writing sessions were set to begin. Following this, The York School’s Indigenous Education Committee set out to create their own Indigenous Education Scope and Sequence document from Kindergarten - Grade 5. By reviewing other provincial curriculum documents and educational resources by Indigenous authors, we scaffolded ways Indigenous Worldviews and Reconciliation could be integrated into our units of inquiry that directly tie back to the Ontario Curriculum.
While still a work in progress, this past month the document was shared with Junior School faculty. It is our hope that this document would complement the curriculum work each Grade level team undertook with Dr. Pamela Rose Toulouse (Dr. Pam). Dr. Pam is originally from the Sagamok First Nation in Northern Ontario and was a previous professor for the Faculty of Education at Laurentian University. She is also a published author of various curriculum resources related to Indigenous education. During the 2021-2022 school year the Junior School hosted a one and a half hour curriculum writing session for each grade level team with Dr. Pam. We are proud to now have a unit of inquiry from Kindergarten to Grade 5 that has an Indigenous focus, which is shared below:
Asian Heritage Month
By: Shelley Gopal
During the month of May 2002, the Canadian Government signed a declaration to designate May as Asian Heritage Month. Like Many cultures, Asian heritage is diverse and the meaning is varied across communities. This year’s theme is Stories of Determination; a reminder for us to come together against Anti-Asian racism and discrimination of all forms. It gives us an opportunity to not only learn about the racism and struggles of the past and present but also about the achievements and beauty of the people and culture.
Students modified Lauren C’s interactive website for 2023 to share with the community. It focuses on Geography, Stigmas & Stereotypes, Activism & Allyship, and Culture. In addition, students created a quiz for students across the grades to complete, and created a wall that highlighted notable people of Asian descent.
Please check out the resources to learn more about Asian Canadian History.
Final Thoughts on DEI for the 2022-2023 Academic Year
By: Shelley Gopal and Sean Rand
We hope you have had a chance to read The York School’s DEI 2023 Update that Struan sent out in late May. As you read in the DEI Update, the school’s partnership with Equity Connections will be completed at the end of this school year. They will be hosting a final workshop with us during June meeting week. Throughout our partnership we have worked on building internal capacity to continue moving this work forward. We will both continue to move the work forward with all members of the community. The faculty and staff will once again engage in a book summer reading related to DEI where we will choose one from a selection and unpack in small groups in August.
Sean and Shelley will be completing a 21 day equity challenge by Eddie Moore Jr and would like to invite others from our community to join. Eddie Moore Jr has created several challenges (he has a 21 day Equity Indigenous Challenge, a 21 Day Equity Faith Based Challenge, a 21 day Self Care Challenge and several others). The challenges require you to do one action to further your understanding of power, privilege, supremacy, oppression and equity. He offers a wealth or resources of different modalities (podcasts, videos, articles). In addition, your time commitment is also up to you as the resources range from 5 mins to 2 hours a day. You can find his challenges at https://www.eddiemoorejr.com/21daychallenge. If you do decide to complete one, please feel free to reach out and let us know how it goes!
Thank you for reading and to all those who contributed! Next issue will be in September!
RESOURCES TO CHECK OUT
CBC website: Canada’s Asian Heritage Month - RCI celebrates and highlights the Canadian histories and issues pertinent to Asians in Canada. This Website includes an audio-clip of Vivienne Poy speaking about the origins of May as Asian Heritage month. This website also offers resources that focus on Japanese Canadian, Chinese Canadian and Vietnamese Canadian histories.
Canada's Asian Heriage Month - This website highlights how different Canadian provinces are acknowledging and celebrating Asian Canadian history during the month of May.
NFB Asian Content Films - NFB films that focus on Asian Canadian and Asian Diasporic content.
The Canadian Encyclopedia—Racial Segregation of Asian Canadians
Government of Canada - Asian Heritage Month website highlights resources such as posters and videoclips featuring histories and current content pertaining to Asian Heritage and Canadians of Asian descent.
Radio Canada International: Asian Heritage Month website provides information on Asian Heritage celebrations in major countries across Canada
IMPORTANT DATES
-
June 2023
June: Pride Month
June 2nd: Sakyamuni Buddha’s Birthday (Buddhism)
June 3rd: Poson (Buddhism)
June 4th: Pentecost (Christianity)
June 11th: All Saints Day (Christianity)
June 16th: Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Sikhism)
June 21st: National Indigenous Peoples Day (Indigenous Worldview)
June 21st: Summer Solstice (Wicca)
June 27th/28th: Waqfatu’Arafat (Islam)
June 28th/29th: Eid-ul-Adha (Islam)
-
July 2023
July 1st: Canada Day (Government of Canada)
July 3rd: Asalha Puja Day (Buddhism)
July 3rd: Guru Purnima (Hinduism and Jainism)
July 10th: Martyrdom of the Báb (Bahá’i)
July 11th: Imamat Day (Islam)
July 14th-16th: Jalsa Salana (Islam)
July 17th: Navroze (Zoroastrianism)
July 18th/19th: Hijra (Islam)
July 22nd: Khordad Sal (Zoroastrianism)
July 27th: Tishah B’Av (Judaism)
July 28th: Ashura (Islam)
-
August 2023
August 1st: Lughnasadh/Lammas (Wicca)
August 4th: Farvadegan (Zoroastrianism)
August 5th: Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment (Buddhism)
August 16th: Navroze (Zoroastrianism)
August 21st: Khordad Sal (Zoroastrianism)
August 30th: Dharma Day/Ullambana (Buddhism)
August 30th: Raksha Bandhan (Hinduism)