The First People's teacher, herself Songhee, opened the ceremonies, thanking the Songhee, and Coast Salish, for allowing the use of their territories, so that our children may live and learn on them.

It may not seem like a big thing, to some, but truly it is. All the children attending that school, or who have attended, understand that they are living on other People's territory, and appear to have an intrinsic awareness of colonization, and what it has done, more so than any other children in their age gradient that I have ever met.

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Originally posted by Timebandit:
That sounds lovely, remind.

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The school my daughters attend is a "community school", a special designation. Because of this, we receive extra funding for programs dealing with racism and in understanding the First Nations and Metis cultures. Ms T's teacher is Metis herself, as was the student teacher who interned in her classroom this past year. Although we have much further to go, the school system has come a long way from when I was in elementary school.

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Originally posted by remind:
This type of thing needs to be done across Canada, I believe as only when the children, our future, know this truth can the colonial mentality fall away.

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BC Education Resources

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BC public school districts have put into place a wide variety of supports for
aboriginal students. Much of this has been made possible by the targeted funding
provided for districts offering special programs and support to aboriginal students.
The results of cooperation among First Nations and school districts flowing from federal
funding arrangements are also evident. The Education Partners Group has encouraged
and coordinated efforts of all BC education partners to support student achievement for
aboriginal students.
The following examples are taken from a few districts. Many more districts have similar
supports as well as unique ones.
Structures
These may developed under Enhancement Agreements or Local Education Agreements to
provide continuing planning for success of aboriginal students. Examples:
• District aboriginal advisory council or Education Committee with First Nations/
aboriginal representation (e.g. SDs 23, 44, 51, 71, 79)
• Committee to discuss individual top at-risk students (TARC) and network with First
Nation re: short- and/or long-term plans (SD44)
• Agreements with First Nations regarding programs and utilization of aboriginal
education funding (SD46)
• Funding contributed by First Nations for educational support within schools and at
Band Education Centre (SD46)
• First Nations sponsorship of special events, guest speakers and conferences (SD46)
• Two branch structure: one for Band and one for other aboriginal students, headed by a
district principal (SD46)
• District Aboriginal Education Support Centre (SD46)
• Cultural budgets distributed per aboriginal student to school accounts for classroom or
school cultural events, learning resources and aboriginal student activities (SD71)
• Consultant conducted thorough evaluation of Aboriginal Education Program (SD23)

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Curriculum and Learning Resources
• Educational Programs
o Full-day kindergarten programs (e.g., SD46, 62, 79)
o First Nations Graduation Program (SD62)
• Courses with First Nations focus
o First Nations Integrated Studies program (SD44)
o BC First Nations Studies 12 (SD 23, 62, 63); also offered as
self-directed course.
o First Nations Art Courses (SD44, 63)
o Language and Culture: provincially recognized four-credit
course (SD46):
o Language program (SD62, SD23)
o First Nations block (SD44)
o English Language Development classes (SD46, 63)
• Educational activities, field trips, and intensive learning programs
o Outdoor education including outdoor therapy (SD44)
o Language and Culture program: Teacher of aboriginal
ancestry visits and teaches in each elementary classroom:
entire class and their regular teacher participates at least every
two weeks in teachings about aboriginal knowledge and
culture: secondary classes also involved (SD46)
o Buffalo School: three-day program with elders (SD46)
o Leadership Program (SD46, 63)
o Mentoring project: aboriginal secondary students trained as
mentors for elementary students (SD46)
o Legacy Projects : senior students learn craft from skilled
master crafter (SD46)
o Field trips (SD62)
o FN 12 participation in Sockeye Release Festival (SD23)
o Raven’s reading club (SD79)
o Riding Thunder: culture performance (dance showcase) for
aboriginal elementary students from across the district (SD
23)
o Culture Day: aboriginal students at elementary school have
day of games, art and cultural activities at First Nation
House of Learning
o Presentations prepared by Aboriginal Culture Program,
including Restorative Justice and Aboriginal astronomy.
(SD23).

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