Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement signed and celebrated

Traditional songs sung by Haida First Nation members opened a milestone event Feb. 22 in the Haida Gwaii school district (SD 50) as representatives of the provincial government, school district and local bands signed their first Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement. The agreements are commitments between the signatories to support Aboriginal student success and the inclusion of Aboriginal culture as well as history in classrooms. In a district where more than half of the students are Aboriginal, Haida culture and language are an integral part of the school curriculum. First Nations Elders work with teachers to instruct children in traditional weaving, food-gathering and cooking. To promote literacy, students and educators created an alphabet book, B is for Basketball, which reflects their heritage as well as their love of basketball. This published book is available throughout the province. The collaboration between the school district and the Haida Nation is already making a positive impact on Aboriginal students. Since 2006, the number of Aboriginal students completing high school in Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte has increased every year. In 2010-11, 60 per cent of the district’s Aboriginal students graduated with a Dogwood diploma, compared to an average of 54 per cent of Aboriginal students in the province.