41 | durhamregion.com | This Week | Thursday, June 16, 2022 | metroland PA R C E L S E R V I C E S MetrolandParcelServices.ca *Offer Details: Offer valid until June 1, 2022. Offer only valid to new clients who onboard with Metroland Parcel Services to provide final mile delivery within Ontario for a minimum of 90 days with a minimum average weekly volume 250 parcels (based on number of pick ups required). Delivery is based onMetroland Parcel Services' coverage area, maps and FSA's of coverage area available here. Parcels cannot exceed 50lbs in weight and 120" in diameter in dimensions. You will receive a credit on your invoice after 90 days of service for the number of parcels actually shipped in the first week of your contract (Monday to Friday deliveries only) up to a maximum of 1,000 parcels. Further restrictions may apply, more details available upon inquiry. We may revoke, terminate, cancel or modify this offer at any time without notice. This offer is void where prohibited by law, are not redeemable for cash or credit, are not valid on past purchases andmay not be combined with any other discount, coupon or offer. Best-in-class networks, lightning fast delivery, and lower costs. Keepupwith your most demanding e-commerceneeds better and for less. Deliver smarter. YOURFIRSTWEEKOFDELIVERIES, UPTO 1,000PARCELS FREE* A Grade 11 English course focused on Indigenous authors will be mandatory in all Durham District School Board high schools starting in September 2022. Implementation of the "Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices" course started in fall 2021 with nine DDSB high schools. "As we move into full implementation next year, it will be mandatory in all schools, which is really exciting for us that all graduates will leave the DDSB with at least one course that fully exposes them to Indigenous authorship," says DDSB Superintendent Erin Elmhurst. Momentum has been growing in Durham schools to offer a high school English course that swaps out writers like Shakespeare for Indigenous authors like Drew Hayden Taylor, Richard Wagamese and Eden Robinson. In 2018, two teachers with the DDSB teamed up to offer the board's first English course focused on Indigenous authors, as a pilot project. In 2019, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board -- which includes public schools in Clarington -- became one of the first boards in Ontario to replace the standard Grade 11 English course with one featuring Indigenous voices, followed by the Durham Catholic District School Board in 2020. DDSB students say the Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices course is having a profound impact on them. "I'm so glad I was able to experience this, it really opened up the floor for deeper conversations that are very, very uncomfortable to have especially as a white person myself," says Riley Quick, a Grade 11 student at Ajax High School. "It made me self-reflect on a lot of personal and...societal issues." Johnathan Wright, also a student at Ajax High School, said the course made students feel "empowered and encouraged them to become involved, not only in Indigenous issues, but also issues in human rights." Wright said the course taught students that Indigenous issues are not something that happened in the past -- "it is current and ongoing," he said. DDSB student trustee De-Mario Knowles identifies as Indigenous and says the Grade 11 English course is a sign that things are changing for the better. "Throughout my 14 years in public education, unfortunately I've had very little exposure to my Indigenous culture," he says. "As more Indigenous students come into our school board, when they see that we have this course that talks about their culture, I think that it will make them feel like they're seen, like they're heard." A DDSB report says 950 students took the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Contemporary Voices course in quadmesters one and two of this school year with 92 per cent of students passing the course. A Grade 11 English course focused on Indigenous authors and perspectives will be mandatory in all Durham District High Schools starting in September 2022. DDSB image INDIGENOUS GRADE 11 ENGLISH COURSE TO BE MANDATORY NEWS JILLIAN FOLLERT jfoller t@durhamregion.com