School District 27 is one of the five school districts in British Columbia selected to help develop a new Ministry of Education First Nations student curriculum guide.
SD27 First Nations district principal David DeRose says the local school district works really hard to enhance First Nations education in all its schools, and has gained the ministry’s attention with its innovative and successful local approaches.
“We do a lot of communications with them and they see what things we are doing to improve aboriginal education within the school district.”
The school district keeps up this regular contact through the Aboriginal Education Enhancement branch to share what SD27 has implemented and ideas on what else the ministry might do to better enhance First Nations education across the province, he explains.
At a recent conference held in Williams Lake, First Nation leaders joined more than 80 representatives from SD27, the Cariboo Regional District, City of Williams Lake council, RCMP, Ministry of Education and others to find curriculum improvements for First Nations students.
“The vision of the conference, with First Nations stakeholders involved with that enhancement group, was to try to find better ways to move forward with First Nations education,” explains DeRose.
“It was exciting to be part of this because it really helps us [proceed] with … helping to educate First Nations students.”
It is one of five conferences to be held in each of the participating school districts.
DeRose adds he was heartened so many area band chiefs and Elders attended and participated in discussions, including Canim Lake Band Chief Mike Archie.
“They bring such a vast knowledge of the First Nations groups.”
The guide will help further educate B.C. teachers and principals on aboriginal perspectives and learning, he explains.
“They’ll take the data from the five districts and they’ll compile it all and then come up with a comprehensive curriculum guide for teachers.”
DeRose notes there is another important aspect in the guide to help teachers to educate their non-aboriginal students about First Nations perspectives.
The conferences also highlight changes coming to the B.C. curriculum and work to strengthen relationships between communities and schools.
The other four school district involved in the process are Tsaxis (Fort Rupert), Burnaby, Cranbrook and Kelowna area school districts.
