Aboriginal programs threatened by cutbacks

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A dream of weaving the youth of today with traditions of the past has become knotted, as the Alberta government announced cutbacks to school programs.

Partnerships formed to develop the spiritual and cultural traditions in Aboriginal students have found themselves without funding, which has left administration at several schools in the Edmonton public and separate school divisions scrambling.

This past month, Ma-mowe, a child benefits program named from a Cree word meaning partnership, announced it would cut funding by $110,000 in February throughout the division.

Effects from the cuts will be felt by the Maskosak Early Intervention program, Journeys Team program and the Community Links program, all of which are offered at schools with high Aboriginal student enrollment.

Running the three programs within the division for a complete year totals $255,000, which, to this point, Ma-mowe has provided in installments during the year.

Reasons for the cuts stem from the desire to put more money into kids at high risk, rather than into early intervention with students.

The Maskosak Early Intervention program provides students with a First Nation social worker within the school who aids students with conflicts inside and outside the classroom.

As well, the Community Links program offers students an in-school counsellor and social worker who work extensively organizing a variety of contact programs within the community surrounding the school.

"It allows students to be proud of who they are, and know who they are," said Bob Steele, district principal in charge of Aboriginal Education within the Edmonton Catholic School Division.

Allowing students to learn their heritage is the sole purpose of the Journeys Team program that was designed for kindergarten to Grade 5 students. The daily program gives students one-on-one contact with First Nation Elders and other adults who teach spirituality, dance, language, arts and crafts.

"The application they're taking there is to assist the kids in the school with their culture and leave them more comfortable with who they are," said Steele.

One of the most popular schools in Edmonton, that prides itself on offering the Journeys Team program, is St. Clare/Ben Calf Robe Catholic Elementary and Junior High School.

"The mandate of the school is to help Aboriginal kids to stay in school, and if we lose that (programming) then we're really not any different than other elementary schools," said school principal Sean McGuinness. "The spiritual aspect will be axed if it (the cuts) goes through."

For the past 21 years the school has had the capacity for 260 students, but only recently has the facility been used fully.

"The word is out there, student enrollment numbers are skyrocketing," said McGuinness. "This year we had to turn kids away."

Three cultural teachers spend every day helping students acquire knowledge of their beliefs and traditions inside a classroom setting, But the salaries for these individuals will be the first to go if the division can't get Ma-mowe to overturn its November decision.

But even if the organization decides to follow through with its original cuts, McGuinness said he doesn't plan to give up.

"As a principal I have to look further down the road and look for funding so we don't miss a beat," he said. "If the cuts do go through we have to make sure we continue, but it's not a done deal yet."