Ottawa, as we know it today, is rich in Indigenous history and modern traditions of many First Nations, Métis and Inuit. We gather daily on the unceded and unsurrendered lands of the Algonquin Nation and have the responsibility to honour and respect the four directions, land, waters, plants, animals, ancestors that walked before us.

Cam Walker (1968 – 2005), was born in Edmonton Alberta. Cam was placed into the Walker family as a result of the government practice of removing Indigenous children from their home communities. This government practice is often referred to as the 60s scoop but the reality is, there continues to be an overrepresentation of Indigenous children in the child welfare system across Canada.

We have since learned his mother was from the Samson Cree Nation, in the area of Maskwacis.

Cam was a brother, a son, and uncle to his adoptive family. He was a natural athlete who excelled at skiing becoming a member of the B.C. Juvenile Downhill Race team. Cam was a kind and gentle soul with a good sense of humour and an easy laugh. He lived his later days in Squamish B.C, fishing and mountain biking. Unfortunately, he took his own life in April 2005.

If you are interested in supporting this important Fund, please donate here.

Purpose of the Fund

This fund is dedicated to Cam’s life and will be used to support the needs and initiatives of Indigenous Ottawa-Carleton District School Board students and their families.

Eligibility

All OCDSB students who identify as First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.

Collaborative Support

With the support of the Indigenous Education Team at the OCDSB, student needs will be identified and funds to support the need will be requested from the Education Foundation of Ottawa.

This fund is meant to directly support Indigenous students and families within the OCDSB in the following ways:

• food security
• winter gear
• clothing and shoes for school
• school supplies
• recreational activities, camps and other opportunities
• furniture and other household items

Kwey! Taanshi! She:kon! Boozhoo! Tunngasugitsi!

Did you know that the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has a number of ways to support Indigenous students?

*Information shared directly from the OCDSB website. 

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) is committed to working with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) community members in the Ottawa-Gatineau region to ensure that First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students have opportunities and resources to achieve academic success and to further their personal well-being. In addition, it is our goal to improve educational outcomes for all students by ensuring that they leave secondary school with a complete and authentic understanding of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit histories, traditions, and contemporary realities.

The OCDSB First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Education team works with students, schools and community partners to:

• forge strong relationships between OCDSB schools and staff and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities in Ottawa;
• promote First Nations, Métis, and Inuit perspectives as part of daily school life, across the curriculum and throughout the school year;
• support programming for learning and leadership specific to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students in grades K-12; and
• create school spaces that are inclusive of and responsive to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students, their families, and their cultures.

Learn more about the Indigenous Education in the OCDSB by visiting the following links:

Support for Students and Families

Support for Staff

Community Involvement

Parent Involvement

Here are some more links to further information:  

Voluntary Self Identification

First Nations, Métis and Inuit Learning Center – Manido Onji

Programs & Resources