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Chief Whitecap School – An Alliance with Saskatoon Public Schools

The Principal and Counsellor from Chief Whitecap School and the Superintendent from Saskatoon Public Schools discuss the importance of the alliance that brought about the school.

In partnership between Whitecap Dakota First Nation and Saskatoon Public Schools, Chief Whitecap School embodies the vision of provincially mandated curriculum taught in a good way and in alignment with Dakota First Nations culture, language, and traditions. With funding from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, Chief Whitecap School is the designated school for Whitecap Dakota First Nation students in Grade 5-8. The funding helps to reduce the education and graduation gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students which has given opportunities for continued Dakota cultural learning and language acquisition. This partnership is committed to reconciliation as it works towards the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. The success of the school is determined within the relationships of the partners, teachers, students, and community.

The Summer Program in Property and Customary Law at the Indigenous Law Centre at the University of Saskatchewan

Program Coordinator, Kathleen Makela and Director, Larry Chartrand discuss the Indigenous Law Centre’s Summer Program.

The Indigenous Law Centre at the University of Saskatchewan offers The Summer Program in Property and Customary Law, which is an eight-week graduate program offered to Indigenous law students from across Canada. The program covers Property Law and Customary Law which count towards their first year credits and makes their workload during the first semester of law school a bit more manageable. Specifically, students learn about property law and skills to be successful in law school, such as: legal writing, legal analysis, how to brief on cases, and legal memos. Since 1973, The Summer Program has been successful in increasing the number of Indigenous people studying and practising law in Canada.

Since this story was created much has changed at the Indigenous Law Centre at the University of Saskatchewan. The Summer Program in Property and Customary Law no longer exists and has evolved into a new certificate program. For more information and for lists of publications please visit the Indigenous Law Centre.

Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP)

SUNTEP is a teacher education program that focuses on Métis education and student success.

Janice Thompson is the Program Head for the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP). SUNTEP is a four-year, fully accredited Bachelor of Education program offered by the Gabriel Dumont Institute in cooperation with the Ministry of Advanced Education, the University of Regina, and the University of Saskatchewan. Prospective students can find campuses located in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and Regina. The education program is designed around Métis education, cultural revitalization, and language reclamation. The program’s foundations are centered around relationships, academic and personal supports, and land-based learning. Currently, SUNTEP is the only post-secondary academic program in the country that offers Michif as an approved language credit. Thompson believes that, like First Nations education, Métis education needs to be mandated by the province so that Métis history, identity, language, and culture are no longer an after-thought. Equality in education means that our education system must be inclusive of all Indigenous groups, Inuit, Métis, and First Nations, and be mandated by our provincial government.

Wiseman Mathematics Contest

A national mathematics contest for Indigenous youth on reserves in Grades 4-6.

Dr. Arzu Sardarli is an Associate Professor of Physics and Mathematics in the Department of Indigenous Science, The Environment, and Economic Development at First Nations University of Canada. Since 2008, Dr. Sardarli has been leading Math contests for students between Grades 4-6 who are living on-reserve. Supported by their teachers, up to five hundred students compete each year from reserve schools between British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. The competition is strong. Students finishing in first, second, and third place receive certificates of participation and the first-place winner becomes that year’s national winner. Dr. Sardarli believes that this competition builds a network of students and teachers who are connected around this topic.

Land-Based Programs Offered by the Treaty Education Alliance

Lori Whiteman, Executive Director of the Treaty Education Alliance, describes their land-based programs and services.

The Treaty Education Alliance (TEA) offers educational programs and services for schools and communities. With funding from INAC they are able to serve K-12 schools using an inherent and Treaty Rights-Based Approach. The Alliance aims to increase student retention, numeracy, literacy, and community engagement. The Learning the Land program builds land-based learning capacity for teachers while working alongside language keepers and local Knowledge Keepers. The Alliance also partners with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Outbound Canada for their programs. To learn more about their programs please review their resources below.

Check out Learning the Land website for educational initiatives undertaken to exercise the inherent and treaty rights to education.

In partnership with Outward Bound Canada, the Treaty Education Alliance offers Field Leader Training as professional development opportunities for teachers and affiliated schools. Check out this video!

Tsuu’tina Nation Post Secondary Program

Tsuut’ina Nation Post Secondary program offers insight on their program and student success​.

Tsuut’ina Nation Post Secondary program offers insight on their program and student success​.

Chief Atahm School & Language Nest

Chief Atahm School offers ECE and immersion classes for children up to grade 4. The Secwepemc Ka Language Nest focuses on full immersion for children from 6 months to 4 years old. Language classes are offered for students in the community in-person and online. Some language classes are provided to students grade 5 and up. […]

Chief Atahm School offers ECE and immersion classes for children up to grade 4. The Secwepemc Ka Language Nest focuses on full immersion for children from 6 months to 4 years old. Language classes are offered for students in the community in-person and online. Some language classes are provided to students grade 5 and up. Visit the website at: http://www.chiefatahm.com/index.html

Kwak’wala Language Group

There are approximately 100+ Kwakwaka’wakw members living in Nanaimo, BC. The Kwak’wala Language Group started in Nanaimo in September 2017. Three faculty members from Vancouver Island University (VIU) wrote a proposal to the Aboriginal Service Plan, which is administrated through the Office of Aboriginal Education and Engagement, to fund the program. It was a success! […]

There are approximately 100+ Kwakwaka’wakw members living in Nanaimo, BC. The Kwak’wala Language Group started in Nanaimo in September 2017. Three faculty members from Vancouver Island University (VIU) wrote a proposal to the Aboriginal Service Plan, which is administrated through the Office of Aboriginal Education and Engagement, to fund the program. It was a success! Now, the program is offered every two weeks to all ages at Shq’apthut “A Gathering Place” at VIU Nanaimo campus.

http://www.native-languages.org/kwakiutl.htm

Use of Blackfoot language and culture in kindergarten classroom at Opokaa’sin Early Intervention Society

In this interview, kindergarten teacher Arlene Ward speaks on the importance of culturally relevant and diverse books for young learners, how she integrates Blackfoot and other languages into her curriculum, and why culture-based classroom activities make a difference for her students at Opokaa’sin Early Intervention Society. https://www.opokaasin.org/

In this interview, kindergarten teacher Arlene Ward speaks on the importance of culturally relevant and diverse books for young learners, how she integrates Blackfoot and other languages into her curriculum, and why culture-based classroom activities make a difference for her students at Opokaa’sin Early Intervention Society.

https://www.opokaasin.org/

The River Program at Katarowki Learning Centre

Interview with Kelly Maracle & Michael Payne about Katarowki Learning Centre, an alternate secondary school in Kingston.

Interview with Kelly Maracle & Michael Payne about Katarowki Learning Centre, an alternate secondary school in Kingston.