We can't continue disrespecting the Indigenous people - school board chair needs to learn how to pronounce the words.

News 100 blueBy Pepper Parr

November 20th, 2017

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It has taken decades for Canadians to begin to come to terms with our Indigenous community.

The federal government took us through the Truth and Reconciliation process and the Halton District School Board (HDSB) has been very proactive in getting the subject of recognizing and respecting the people who walked this land long before white people first sailed up the St Lawrence River.

Burlington doesn’t have an Indigenous population – we don’t have any direct issues to deal with. Thunder Bay is in a very different situation – something they struggle with.

The HDSB now makes a practice of having the Chair reads out a statement at the beginning of each public meeting.

Amos treaty land statement

Statement read at the beginning of every public session of the Halton District School Board.

There was a time when that Board may have had everyone stand up and Sing God Save the Queen or O’Canada
Most of us knew the words or at least some of them.

The Chair of the Board read the Honouring the Land and Territory  – she shouldn’t have, at least not until she has taken the time to learn the correct pronunciation and is able to get her tongue around the more difficult ones.

To read the statement so badly is an insult to the Indigenous people.

There are Indigenous people on staff that can help the Chair get the pronunciation right. Some of the words are not easy – practicing and getting it right is what we owe these people. If HDSB Chair Kelly Amos cannot do it right  – better not to do it at all.

Our ancestors took their land, do we have to mangle their culture?

Return to the Front page
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

1 comment to We can’t continue disrespecting the Indigenous people – school board chair needs to learn how to pronounce the words.

  • Sharon

    It’s a good thing the Trustees will be voting in a new chair and vice chair in the coming weeks. Hopefully, we at least see a change there!