Additional FNMI funding will provide new programming for SGSC

The Saskatoon Greater School Board hopes a new pot of provincial money will help provide more Aboriginal-specific programming.

Angella Pinay, co-ordinator of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Education, said if funding is approved by the province, the school board will offer five new initiatives.

The first project will bring together a team of leaders made up of teachers and administrative staff from two schools, and a partner school from a neighbouring First Nation, to set goals to improve learning at their schools.
Pinay said an example might be looking at school reading levels. If there is room for improvement, Pinay said the team may set a goal to improve literacy.

Pinay said this leadership project is modeled after a project at Oskayak High School.

“They’ve changed how they offer some of their programming and their attendance has increased 37 per cent,” she said.

The second project will focus on transitioning students into careers or post-secondary institutions.

For this project, Pinay said the school board will partner with the Saskatoon Tribal Council’s high school. Together, they will arrange co-op work placements for students and the emphasis will be on jobs that need math and science skills.

“Students will gain part-time employment while they are in school with that industry,” she said.

Right now, Pinay said the school board is working on making connections with industry.

The third project will provide training for teachers who want to learn more about Aboriginal culture so they can take that knowledge into the classroom.

“We are looking at taking perhaps about two cohorts of 30 teachers who are either Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal,” she said.

Pinay said a teacher may be of Aboriginal ancestry, but may not have knowledge of his or her culture. On the other hand, a non-Aboriginal person may be well accustomed to certain traditions.

“We’re trying to create a certain level of knowledge around cultural practices and traditions and history,” she said.

Pinay said the fourth project is called Math Warriors. The aim of this program is to improve the math skills of Aboriginal students at eight schools.

Math Warriors will also incorporate a physical activity component, she added.

The fifth program, also a partnership with the Tribal Council, would help bring more Aboriginal culture and language into the classroom. Elders will come into the school so students can experience culture and language.
Pinay said the school board is extremely excited about the new programs.

“It’s really exciting as a team because we are all making differences in certain areas,” she said.