Muskowekwan First Nation places first in national contest

When the grade four and five students at Muskowekwan Elementary School participated in the Wiseman mathematics contest last year, they had no idea that one of their own would win first place. Deja Roper, now in grade six at the 170-student school, placed at the top amongst 869 students from 30 learning institutions across Canada. The Saulteaux Muskowekwan First Nation is located near Melfort, a one and a half hour drive from Regina.

“Deja comes from a very nice family and is a good student and an awesome child, well-behaved and polite,” said teacher Lorraine Joanette. “He does well in all his subjects.”

Joannette considers all her students winners. They learned to take the time to read the questions carefully, after which they could go on to answer confidently and correctly.

“The students were well prepared as there were sample questions for them to practice on, so they were ready for the actual test,” said Joanette. “And the idea that they were competing nationally made it exciting as well.”

The children’s efforts were recognized with a certificate and each received a $5.00 participation prize.

Dr. Arzu Sardarli, assistant professor of physics and mathematics at First Nations University of Canada on the Prince Albert Campus, introduced the contest in 2007 when he joined FNUC.

It is important, said Sardali, that Aboriginal content is obvious in the questions, with names common to the culture and problems centering on hunting, fishing or other traditional practices.

Joanette said that the fact that the terminology and references were all relevant to First Nations culture was pleasing.

 “In Saskatchewan there have been great improvements in recent years. We have integrated Aboriginal culture into every subject,” she said.

 “First we had to find some funding as there is no registration fee for the students to pay. Thanks to NSERC and their PromoScience program, we were able to accomplish that,” said Sardali.

 Schools in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were the first to participate in the Wiseman mathematics contest. Now students from British Columbia, Ontario, and Nova Scotia also write the exam. Prizes include modest cash amounts as well as recognition for best school and possible attendance at the awards ceremony in Prince Albert in November.

All schools receive advance notice of the upcoming contest.

“We send out the materials and they take the test, usually towards the end of the school year, and return to us for marking,” said Sardarli. The students are motivated and feel good about their participation and achievement in the activity. The too-common idea that mathematics cannot be fun has been overcome.

Staff and students at Muskowekwan are looking forward to participating again next spring. The forward-thinking school houses kindergarten to grade eight, with high school students going to Punnichy Community High School, located only minutes away.

“The Wiseman mathematics contest was a great outside activity in which our school was pleased to participate,” said Joanette.