16.010 - Jarvis Collegiate Institute Ninth-Grade Art: Expressions of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Cultures

Session Type: Off-Site Visit

Abstract

Jarvis Collegiate Institute was founded in 1807 as the first public high school in Toronto and has a long-standing tradition of academic excellence and student involvement. Jarvis has a reputation of preparing the next generation of community and world leaders.
Situated in the 'heart of the city' of Toronto, Jarvis Collegiate serves students from over 100 countries of origin, integrated into one unified, vibrant community in which diversity is seen as a strength. Among its many strong academic programs, including an emphasis on STEM curriculum and project-based learning, Jarvis is a leader in the effort to implement the Toronto District School Board’s 9th grade art curriculum that centers Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Site visit participants will tour Jarvis art and Native Studies teacher, Alison Lott’s, 9th grade art class to learn how she implements several key interdisciplinary topics into her curriculum to enable her students to explore and reflect upon First Nations, Mètis and Inuit perspectives and cultures. Units in this curriculum include “Identifying the importance of animals to the Indigenous,” the history of Treaties and Wampum belts, the ways in which Indigenous communities heal, respect Elders and center storytelling within art.
This site visit will include a brief tour of the historic Jarvis Collegiate building, which includes an auditorium that features murals by famed Canadian artist, George Reid, a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. In contrast to the 9th grade art curriculum on Indigenous ways of knowing and being, the murals depict the Settlers portrayal of the colonization of Canadian lands.
Known as a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) school, with an emphasis on project-based learning and an inquiry method of teaching. Students partake in independent and collaborative studies within the S.T.E.M. fields. Jarvis is committed to providing a rich and varied program encouraging higher order thinking as well as research and communication skills. Over 85 percent of Jarvis graduates attend university, including top schools like University of Toronto and Ryerson University.

Sub Unit

• AERA Presidential Session

Chairs

• Michael harvey, Jarvis Collegiate

• Alison Lott, Jarvis Collegiate Institute