Ontario Aboriginal Head Start Association

05/05/2026

MAY 10, 2026
🧡Bear Witness Day🧡

Honouring Jordan River Anderson and the right of every First Nations child to equitable care

On May 10, we invite you to join us in honouring Bear Witness Day, a day that holds deep meaning in our collective journey toward justice, equity, and fairness for First Nations children. This day is named in honour of Jordan River Anderson, a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation whose story touched a nation and gave rise to Jordan's Principle.

As educators and leaders shaping the earliest experiences of children, Bear Witness Day calls us to hold space with cultural humility, to listen deeply, reflect honestly, and act meaningfully in support of every child's right to thrive.

We have created a full resource page on the OAHSA website to support your program this Bear Witness Day. It includes Jordan's story, classroom activity ideas, a staff reflection prompt, and a ready-to-use family communication template.

🧡JORDAN'S STORY🧡

Who was Jordan River Anderson?

Jordan River Anderson was born in 1999 with complex medical needs. He spent his entire short life in hospital, never once going home, while federal and provincial governments disputed who was responsible for funding his home care. Jordan passed away in 2005 at just five years old, having never had the chance to live with his family.

His story became the foundation for Jordan's Principle, a child-first principle and legal obligation ensuring that First Nations children have equitable access to the services they need, when they need them, without delay or jurisdictional dispute.

Jordan's Principle
Norway House Cree Nation
First Nations Child and Family Caring Society

🟠WAYS ECES CAN HONOUR BEAR WITNESS DAY

-Display teddy bears in your classroom to symbolically bear witness to Jordan's story and every child who deserves better.
-Invite children to share what fairness and care mean to them through drawing, painting, or storytelling.
-Read Spirit Bear stories to introduce Jordan's Principle in a compassionate, age-appropriate way.
-Wear orange or bear-themed clothing in solidarity and explain to children why we show up for one another.

🟠EDUCATOR REFLECTION PROMPT


In what ways does our learning environment actively support equity for Indigenous children? Where are the gaps, and what is one meaningful step we can take this month?
Bring this prompt to your next team meeting. Additional reflection supports are available on the OAHSA resource page.

🟠READY-TO-USE FAMILY LETTER

A letter for the families in your program

Our resource page includes a print-ready family letter that explains Bear Witness Day in plain, warm language. It describes what children will experience in the classroom that day and invites families to keep the conversation going at home. Ready to print or share digitally.

Our full Bear Witness Day resource page includes Jordan's story, classroom activity ideas, a staff reflection prompt, links to Jordan's Principle resources, the Spirit Bear film and book series, and a ready-to-use family communication template. Everything your program needs is in one place.

🧡View the Full Bear Witness Day Page https://oahsa.ca/notable-acknowledgements/

🟠QUICK LINKS

Jordan's Principle: Government of Canada → https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1568396042341/1568396159824

First Nations Child and Family Caring Society: Bear Witness Day → https://fncaringsociety.com/BearWitness

Spirit Bear and Children Make History: Short film by Spirit Bear TV → https://vimeo.com/695009927?fl=pl&fe=sh

Spirit Bear Book Series for classrooms → https://fncaringsociety.com/publications/spirit-bear-books

Bear Witness Day reminds us that equity for Indigenous children is not aspirational. It is a legal and moral obligation, and a responsibility we carry every day in our programs, our relationships, and our advocacy. We are grateful to all the educators, families, and communities who continue to show up for the children in their care.

Spirit Bear and Children Make History tells the true story about how Spirit Bear and his friends stood with First Nations children to help make Jordan’s Principle a reality. A film by Spotted Fawn Productions and the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society.

04/30/2026

Carolyn Roberts is an Indigenous speaker, author, educator, and Assistant Professor in Teacher Education. You will find current presentations, lesson plans, resources and books about Indigenous education.

04/30/2026

OAHSA's Honouring Red Dress Day - 2026

MAY 5, 2026

Red Dress Day
National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ People

ONTARIO ABORIGINAL HEAD START ASSOCIATION

On May 5, we join together to honour Red Dress Day, a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ People. This day was inspired by Metis artist Jaime Black's powerful Red Dress installation and calls us to remember those who are missing and taken, and to raise our collective voices for justice, healing, and change.
As educators and leaders walking alongside young children and families, we hold a sacred responsibility to create spaces of belonging where every life is honoured and every child feels the strength and beauty of the women, girls, and 2Spirit people in their communities.
We have created a full resource page on the OAHSA website to support your program this Red Dress Day. It includes educator guidance, a featured video from Carol Roberts, a highlighted book for early years classrooms, and a ready-to-use family communication template.

FEATURED VOICE

Carol Roberts, Educator and Author
St'at'imc and Sto:lo educator, author, and UBC Faculty Lecturer with more than 20 years of experience in Indigenous education. Carol shares her guidance on approaching Red Dress Day meaningfully with young learners. Her video, Teacher Talks, and lesson plans are all featured on our resource page.

View on the OAHSA resource page → https://oahsa.ca/notable-acknowledgements/

FEATURED BOOK

TESSA'S
RED
DRESS
Tessa's Red Dress: Honouring Love and Family
Carol Roberts, Medicine Wheel Publishing, 2026

A tender new picture book for ages 6 to 9 that introduces young children to Red Dress Day through the eyes of young Tessa. Includes backmatter pages to support parents and educators in continuing the conversation with children.

Ages 6 to 9 Educator backmatter included
Order from Medicine Wheel Publishing → https://shop.medicinewheelpublishing.com/products/tesss-red-dress

WAYS TO HONOUR RED DRESS DAY IN YOUR PROGRAM

Wear red in solidarity and share with children that red is used to honour important people in our communities.
Create a quiet display with red fabric, ribbons, or a simple red dress alongside a respectful message for families.
Reflect as a team on how your environment affirms the strength and presence of Indigenous women and girls every day.
Use the family template on our resource page to send a thoughtful message to the families in your program.

Our full Red Dress Day resource page includes the educator video, book details, ways to honour the day with children, a family communication template, and links to Canadian resources. Everything your program needs is in one place.

View the Full Red Dress Day Page https://oahsa.ca/notable-acknowledgements/

QUICK LINKS

National Inquiry into MMIWG: Final Report and Calls for Justice → https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/

Native Women's Association of Canada: Red Dress Day Toolkit → https://nwac.ca/

Tessa's Red Dress by Carol Roberts: Book and Educator Backmatter → https://shop.medicinewheelpublishing.com/en-us/products/tesss-red-dress

Carol Roberts: Teacher Talks, lesson plans, and educator resources → https://www.carolynroberts.net/

Our goal is not to teach traumatic details to young children, but to model respect, empathy, and allyship in age-appropriate and culturally respectful ways. Centring Indigenous voices and leadership is essential to doing this work well. We thank you for joining us in standing in solidarity, raising awareness, and continuing the journey toward justice and healing.

ONTARIO ABORIGINAL HEAD START ASSOCIATION

Carolyn Roberts is an Indigenous speaker, author, educator, and Assistant Professor in Teacher Education. You will find current presentations, lesson plans, resources and books about Indigenous education.

03/23/2026

Celebrating The LOVIT Way! The LOVIT Way PEP stands for Learning to Observe, Value, Inspire and Transform—Program Evaluation Process. Developed by the Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC (AHSABC), it is a culturally sensitive, self-assessment tool designed for early childhood education programs to measure strengths, challenges, and goals based on Indigenous principles.
Clarise Hendrickson, (Métis) the PEP Facilitator for AHS programs in Ontario, notes how empowering this process of self-discovery is for programs: "Most of us are afraid of the word evaluation… But when we were doing the evaluation or the PEP with the sites, and I just said to them, you know what? It's to find out where you are now– and where you want to be." Read more in the upcoming Spring issue of ECEBC Journal!

“Every child is a gift and completely different. What you use with one child might not be right for the next. That’s the beauty of this work—lifelong learning is built in.”

"

02/11/2026

🩷🩷Have a Heart Day: Remembering, Reflecting, and Standing with First Nations🩷🩷

Today, the Centre for Indigenous Professional Learning joins communities across the country in remembrance and reflection on Have a Heart Day, a child‑ and youth‑led reconciliation movement that calls on all of us to stand up for equity, love, and fairness for First Nations children. Have a Heart Day reminds us of the ongoing need to ensure that First Nations children grow up safely at home, have access to quality education and health care, and are supported in being proud of who they are.

View the Sway and conversations with Cindy Blackstock here.
https://sway.cloud.microsoft/fssklDyJYsWXXJB8?ref=Link

As educators and lifelong learners, we are invited to carry these teachings forward through our work, relationships, and advocacy. On this day, we honour the voices of children and youth, reflect on our shared responsibilities, and recommit to learning and action that support reconciliation in meaningful ways. We encourage our learning community to take time today to remember, reflect, and act with heart.

Nya:weh / Miigwetch / Maarsii / Thank You,

The Centre for Indigenous Professional Learning invites you to explore pathways towards creating high-quality, culturally safe spaces within child care and early years programs; with emphasis on how I

01/07/2026

Launch: Standard 4 Professionalism & Leadership in Indigenous Early Childhood Education

Roles, Responsibilities & Leadership in Indigenous Early
Childhood Education
STANDARD 4

Aanii/Hello,

The Centre for Indigenous Professional Learning (CIPL) is pleased to release Standard 4: Professionalism & Leadership. This learning series invites Indigenous early years professionals to engage with the College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice through an Indigenous lens, grounded in shared leadership with children, families, language, and the land. Learners are supported by Elders and Knowledge Keepers and encouraged toward continuous, relationship-based professional growth.

Stay connected: Visit our Professional Development Page https://oahsa.ca/professional-development-2/ for upcoming live session dates and registration.

Miigwech/Thank you for learning with us.

Explore Standard 4 Now https://sway.cloud.microsoft/64q9pqjM3ApLZZTG?ref=email&loc=play

The Centre for Indigenous Professional Learning invites you to explore pathways towards creating high-quality, culturally safe spaces within child care and early years programs; with emphasis on how I

01/05/2026

Winter Solstice Celebration – Sway & Featured Resources

Hello everyone,

To mark the Winter Solstice, we’ve curated a short Sway with activities and classroom ideas that centre culture, land, and seasonality. Explore it here:

Click here to view the Sway presentation.
https://sway.cloud.microsoft/FjuXvyQtzhamIIeG?ref=Link

Additional resources with activities:

December & Winter Solstice Cultural Calendar Ideas
https://www.ahsabc.com/december-cultural-calendar-ideas/

Biboon Mino Waabanoowiwin: Winter Solstice Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojH7u2aN_d8

Biboon Mino Waabanoowiwin: Winter Solstice Lesson Plan
https://downiewenjack.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Biboon-Winter-Solstice-LP.pdf

Winter Solstice Curriculum with Activities
https://scbc-qa-space-hetzner.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/content/uploads/2025/02/05235048/Winter-Solstice-Curriculum-Sierra-Club-BC-Education-Program.pdf

The Learning Circle Classroom activities on First Nations in Canada
https://empoweringthespirit.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Learning-Circle-Ages-4-7.pdf

As we embrace the shortest day and celebrate the return of the light, the Centre for Indigenous Professional Learning (CIPL) wishes you and your loved ones a joyful and restful holiday season. May this time bring warmth, connection, and renewal.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to learning and inclusion. We look forward to continuing our journey together in the new year.

In friendship

11/14/2025

Dear Early Childhood Educators,
On November 16, we join communities across Canada in recognizing Métis Day, a time to honour the rich history, culture, and contributions of the Métis Nation. This day commemorates the life and legacy of Louis Riel, a leader who played a pivotal role in advocating for the rights and identity of the Métis people.

At the Centre for Indigenous Professional Learning, we encourage you to take this opportunity to reflect on the importance of Métis heritage and its role in shaping inclusive and culturally responsive early learning environments.

Here are a few ways you can acknowledge Métis Day in your practice:

♾️Share stories and resources that celebrate Métis culture and traditions.
♾️Engage children in age-appropriate activities that highlight Métis art, music, and language.
♾️Explore learning materials that deepen understanding of Indigenous perspectives.

Here you can access resources that highlight and honour Métis culture:

♾️ Rupertsland.org Learning Resources
♾️ Metis Gathering Online Resource & Classroom Resources https://metisgathering.ca/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/ Learningbird Free Educator Resources for Metis Week and Louis ♾️ Riel Day https://learningbird.com/free-educator-resources-for-metis-week-and-louis-riel-day/
♾️ Early Learning and Childcare Specific Resources by Metis Nation https://www.metisnation.org/programs-and-services/education-training/early-learning-and-child-care/elcc-metis-specific-resources/

Click here to explore our Métis Week & Louis Riel Day Notable Acknowledgements, where you can find an engaging video on Métis Jigging and gain insights into the significance of this week: https://sway.cloud.microsoft/hdHtNdHEYd4dZ8Hx?ref=email

Thank you for your continued commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in early childhood education. Together, we can ensure that every child feels seen, valued, and connected to the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our communities.

The Centre for Indigenous Professional Learning invites you to explore pathways towards creating high-quality, culturally safe spaces within child care and early years programs; with emphasis on how I

11/06/2025

Greetings Early Childhood Educators,

November 7 marks Inuit Day, a time to celebrate the rich knowledge, language, and culture of Inuit Peoples across Inuit Nunangat and beyond. This day invites us to reflect on the strength, resilience, and deep connections to the land, sea, and community that continue to shape Inuit ways of knowing and being.

To support your learning and engagement in early years settings, we’ve gathered resources that honour Inuit knowledge systems and educational perspectives:

Digital Resource:
Celebrating Inuit Day
https://sway.cloud.microsoft/C0B3rpiB1d8yJmfw?ref=Link

Scholarly Readings:
🔵​​Inuit Knowledge and Perceptions of the Land-Water Interface (Heyes, 2007)​​ – Explores intergenerational Inuit understandings of the land-water relationship and the importance of traditional learning practices. https://icoeca.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/Circles/Edj-JAGT09tPikbdPnuHoecBfs5UvWqNMESCY62D5CxtDw?e=HxY709

​​🔵Educating for Cultural Survival in Nunavut: Why Haven’t We Learned from the Past? (McMillan, 2015)​​ – Highlights the importance of Inuit-led education grounded in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) and language preservation.
https://icoeca.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/Circles/EabgjAqn8uxHjrHE-nS4_mUBj1pbwz90HlL9qBnJl19rYw?e=9CSpVh​​

🔵Inuit and Scientific Ways of Knowing and Seeing the Arctic Landscape (Heyes, 2002)​​ – Examines how Inuit and Western perspectives interpret and navigate the Arctic environment through different ways of knowing.
https://icoeca.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/Circles/EUQL5wQTn3hDh02qrp_xLN4B5DazszfCeFDULzCOcgFfTw?e=34EIfc

​​🔵Co-constructing early childhood programs nourished by Inuit worldviews​​
https://icoeca.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/Circles/EaDWjE4Gg5FKlnHv_yzxY9wBPREjon94_vcx9eCeTYjGxA?e=6nI4vR

We encourage you to explore these materials, reflect with your colleagues, and integrate Inuit perspectives and voices into your learning spaces. Together, we can nurture environments where Inuit children and families see their identities, languages, and relationships with the land meaningfully reflected and celebrated.

Thank you for your continued dedication to fostering inclusive, culturally grounded early learning.

10/29/2025

We’re excited to share Part 4 of the Language Series, a continuation of our collective journey exploring how language connects us to land, identity, and one another.

In this final segment, Kristi Talbot reflects on how language carries teachings that shape belonging, expression, and learning. We explore what it means to honour language as relationship within early learning environments and
across community spaces.

Watch part four now:

Click here to watch Learning Through Language and Relationship

https://oahsa.ca/instant-learning-lasting-impact-indigenous-worldviews-in-early-childhood-education/

Available now on the OAHSA Professional Learning page.

We invite you to:

Share the video during staff meetings or reflective circles.

Use the Discussion Prompts provided to guide conversation.

Reflect on: “How does language show up as relationship in our programs, and how can we walk beside children in their language journeys?”

Thank you for your dedication to Indigenous early learning, language revitalization, and cultural restoration. Together, we can honour and revitalize Indigenous languages for generations to come.

This instant learning experience ensures a lasting impact as educators continue to shape the next generation with wisdom and care rooted in Indigenous perspectives  The Centre of Indigenous Professional Learning is dedicated to supporting educators in deepening their understanding and application o...