Areas of Focus
Public Education
Increasing knowledge and awareness among Nova Scotia students about the importance of our shared history and the Peace and Friendship Treaties is critical to the success of Treaty Education.
In 2015, Nova Scotia's Action Plan for Education committed to incorporating Treaty Education into public school programming at all grade levels.
Elementary music teachers participated in professional learning in 2016 and 2017, where teachings about the Mi’kmaw hand drum were shared by an Elder. Each school was gifted a drum, hand-made in a Mi’kmaw community, and students were taught the Mi'kmaw Honour Song and the importance of the drum in Mi'kmaw culture.
For Primary to Grade 2 students across the province, the children’s book series Antle aqq Witapk (Antle and His Friends) from Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey and Sprig Learning is being used to support public school teachers with sharing Mi’kmaw teachings and culture in the classroom. These resources will be in use in public schools in September 2020.
Developed with the guidance of Mi’kmaw elders, professional learning for teachers is ongoing and work to incorporate Treaty Education into other grades continues.