| This Week | Thursday, September 29,2022 | durhamregion.com | 34 scaryskate.com Twitter: @ scary_skate | facebook.com/scaryskate Instagram: scary_skate The Scary Skate owners & all the instructors say Thank-YouThank-You Get better one skate at a time! 2016 2017 DIAMOND WINNER 2020 DIAMOND WINNER 2020 and are so appreciative for voting us "Best Skating School" in Clarington, Oshawa and Whitby. Sept. 30 marks the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, recognizing the children taken from their homes and sent to Canada's residential schools, as well as their families left behind and those who are survivors of the residential school system. There are many ways Durham residents can observe this day. READ BOOKS BY INDIGENOUS AUTHORS Libraries across Durham have compiled recommended reading lists of books by Indigenous authors. Check out a list of Indigenous Reads, a list of Indigenous Books for Kids and a list of fictional works that amplify Indigenous LGBTQIA and Two Spirit Voices. WEAR AN ORANGE SHIRT Sept. 30 is Orange Shirt Day in honour of Phyllis Webstad, whose orange shirt was taken away from her at a residential school -- symbolic of how culture, freedom and identity was stripped away from so many Indigenous children. Learn more about Orange Shirt Day at orangeshirtday.org. TIE AN ORANGE RIBBON Bawaajigewin Aboriginal Community Circle and the City of Oshawa invite residents to bring and tie an orange ribbon at one of five locations in Oshawa. Orange ribbon locations: Walter Beath Parkette, 1 Columbus Rd. E.; Lakeview Park, 55 Lakeview Park Ave.; Delpark Homes Centre, 1661 Harmony Rd. N.; Civic Recreation Complex, 99 Thornton Rd. S.; Oshawa City Hall, 50 Centre St. S. ATTEND A COMMUNITY EVENT • Brock Township Public Library is hosting a reflection and learning event for all ages on Sept. 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Beaverton library branch at 401 Simcoe St. Indigenous educator Gail Johnston will talk about the residential school system and lead participants on a story walk of the book "Phyllis' Orange Shirt" by Phyllis Webstad. Participants will also take part in a promise activity. • Oshawa Public Libraries hosts Alderville First Nation author Brian Beaver from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sept. 30 at the McLaughlin branch at 65 Bagot St. Beaver will speak about his book on the history of Alderville First Nation and the significance of its lands and people. In honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, he will also share his knowledge of the history of residential schools. Copies of Beaver's book will be available for purchase. • From Sept. 12 to 30, visit the children's department at the Uxbridge Public Library to discover books by residential school survivors and Indigenous authors, add your hand print to a commemorative orange shirt door and read Phyllis Webstad's story in the children's garden. TAKE A COURSE Several universities in Canada offer free- online courses intended to deepen our understanding of the history and issues impacting Indigenous peoples in this country. Courses such as Aboriginal Worldviews and Education and Indigenous Canada are available through Coursera.org. The residential schools crisis line is available 24 hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of a residential school experience. Support is available at 1-866-925-4419. WAYS TO MARK NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION Snake Island Singers and First Nations Dancers helped the Region of Durham mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by hosting an Orange Shirt Drum Circle at regional headquarters in Whitby on Sept. 29. Jason Liebregts/Metroland Durham District School Board trustees have approved a new policy to help guide schools in choosing books and other learning materials. The Learning Resource Selection Policy and Procedure also outlines what happens when parents or members of the community challenge a book or resource. Both documents were last updated in 2016. Trustees approved an updated version at the DDSB's Sept. 19 board meeting. The appropriateness of books used in schools was front and centre earlier this year, after the DDSB pulled three titles by Indigenous authors from school libraries in response to complaints from Indigenous families. The move made headlines in Canada and the U.S. and sparked intense debate about what should happen when concerns are raised about books used in schools. The three titles -- 'The Great Bear' by David A. Robertson, 'Louis Riel: Le Pays Improbable' by Andre Leblanc and 'Sisters of the Wolf' by Patricia Miller-Shroeder -- were returned to DDSB library shelves after a review. The updated policy lists criteria that should be used for choosing learning materials, including "portraying accurate histories and narratives of various communities and groups that are discriminated against, marginalized and minoritized." All resource selections must comply with the DDSB's Indigenous Education Policy and Human Rights Policy. The procedure notes "at least annually, staff shall engage in resource reviews as to compliance with the Learning Resource Selection Policy, to better support ongoing learning and to challenge discriminatory biases, attitudes, assumptions, stereotypes, content and barriers in learning resources." If a resource is challenged, there are two possible pathways. One is an informal reconsideration that is resolved at the school level with the principal making a decision. The other is a formal process that sees the board strike a Learning Resource Reconsideration Committee that includes DDSB superintendents, senior staff and a trustee. The committee is required to provide a written report on its decision within 30 school days of first meeting. A new DDSB guideline for choosing resources and books advises staff to consider factors like representation -- "are particular identities only represented in one way, or barely at all?" and cultural representation. The guideline also advises staff to look critically at visuals and illustrations and consider questions like: "are physical features accurately drawn? Are members of racialized groups depicted as looking stereotypically similar?" DDSB HAS NEW POLICY TO GUIDE SCHOOLS IN CHOOSING BOOKS AND MATERIALS JILLIAN FOLLERT jfoller t@durhamregion.com NEWS