Land & Rights Acknowledgement

Green trustees are committed to respectfully continuing the VSB’s Reconciliation journey with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, one of the three priorities of the VSB Education Plan. We will follow local First Nations protocols, seeking guidance where needed, and be flexible in working on their priorities and timelines, not ours.  We will continue to seek a deeper understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing and learning and work to improve student success, representation, and language instruction. 

We will:

Seek to enhance Indigenous students’ sense of belonging in our schools. We will increase knowledge, appreciation, and respect amongst all Vancouver students for Indigenous cultures and their contributions

Address barriers to Indigenous student success by looking at quantitative and qualitative data and learning from students, families and communities about structural barriers.  Continue to support a range of pathways to success, such as Xpey’ Indigenous Focus Elementary School.

Respect protocol in naming new schools and, following the completion of the re-naming pilot program, continue this in a thoughtful manner that brings school communities together.

Explore options to create Local Education Agreements (LEAs) with local First Nations and respect the work of and guidance from the VSB’s Indigenous Education Council (IEC).

Support development of Indigenous language programs with the guidance from the VSB’s Indigenous Education Council (IEC) and the representatives from the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.