b'MESSAGE FROM THE ONTARIO REGIONAL CHIEFImplementing Land-basedLearning During the COVID-19PandemicROSEANNE ARCHIBALD Ontario Regional ChiefW ahcheeyay, Aanii! Welcome to the ninth edition of the official Chiefs of Ontario magazine, Advocate. As Ontario Regional Chief, I would like to welcome our first-time readers and share a heartfelt thank you to our readers who continue to return to our pages. I also want to express my sincere appre-ciation for everyone who has generously donated their time and efforts to make this edition a success.It has now been one full year since the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Canada. It is amazing to see individuals, families and commun-ities finding resiliency and strength during this time in history. I want to acknowledge all First Nations in Ontario who are displaying extraordi-nary leadership in the protection of their communities.Our main goal during this pandemic is to achieve zero new confirmed and zero active COVID-19 cases in First Nations communi-ties. We are well into the second wave, and our cases remain lower than the provincial and national averages.As a part of my offices pandemic response, we created a COVID-19 Initiatives Team who provide research, data analysis and documents to support First Nations as they respond to COVID-19. One of the initia-tives was the development of a Land-Based Learning Guide. The purpose of this guide is to provide basic information needed to implement land-based learning as a method of educating students safely and successfully during the global pandemic. The guide includes a summary of land-based learning; the benefits, obstacles and outcomes; sample curricula; steps for implementation; and sample budget costs and funding sources. The Land-Based Learning Guide is an example of First Nation peoples deep connection to the lands, waters and animals around them. Our teachings include the sacred responsibility to live in harmony with and protect Mother Earth. I encourage all people to find ways to connect to their traditional lands and territories. The land is a safe place, a source of healing, and it will continue to support us as we move through the pandemic.Ninanaskamon!8l I ssue2 2020/21C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'