OSSTF/FEESO Celebrates National Aboriginal Day - June 21st

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 20, 2013) - The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) is pleased to join all Canadians in recognizing and celebrating National Aboriginal Day on June 21. Proclaimed by the Governor General of Canada in 1996, National Aboriginal Day provides an opportunity to acknowledge the unique achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis in diverse areas of society, including agriculture, the arts, business and the environment.

"OSSTF/FEESO has a proud history of supporting a variety of initiatives involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis in Ontario and across the country," said Ken Coran, President of OSSTF/FEESO. "Our Federation has continued to provide financial support to the Aboriginal Literacy Summer Camps in Northern Ontario, which was an initiative started by former Lt. Governor James Bartleman."

"We have also continued to support the community of Attawapiskat, as well as Shannon's Dream, in their quest to have a school facility built that is safe and addresses the need for culturally-based education for First Nations students," continued Coran.

In October 2012, OSSTF/FEESO released a comprehensive curriculum resource for educators, called Full Circle-First Nations, Métis and Inuit Ways of Knowing. This package of lesson plans, resources and videos was produced by a team of First Nations and Métis OSSTF/FEESO members, and was the fifth curriculum resource developed through the Common Threads project.

"The Full Circle resource has been very well received by our members and other education groups in North America. It is a testament to our commitment to working with our First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners in Ontario, as well as our members in OSSTF/FEESO," said Paul Elliott, President-Elect of OSSTF/FEESO. "It is with great pride that we recognize National Aboriginal Day on June 21 with all First Nations, Inuit and Métis in Canada."

Copies of the complete Common Threads V-Full Circle resources are available at schools/worksites where OSSTF/FEESO members work. People can also access the resource through the OSSTF/FEESO provincial website at www.osstf.on.ca/commonthreads.

OSSTF/FEESO, founded in 1919, has 60,000 members across Ontario. They include public high school teachers, occasional teachers, educational assistants, continuing education teachers and instructors, early childhood educators, psychologists, secretaries, speech-language pathologists, social workers, plant support personnel, university support staff, and many others in education.