School district continues Aboriginal-focused education

The Langley school district will continue to expand its Aboriginal-focused education program in 2012-13.

The program, which dates back to a 2010 Aboriginal Enhancement Agreement, teaches students about Aboriginal traditions, spirituality and culture.

“The program is very tied to Aboriginal spirituality,” said Sandy Wakeling, Langley school district’s communications manager, adding that the program has four main focuses–mental, spiritual, physical and emotional–which stem from the teachings of the Cree Medicine Wheel.

Students are taught a wide variety of things related to Aboriginal heritage, such as different traditional ceremonies, the role of languages and the importance of Elders.

They also have access to, and are taught by, onsite Elders.
As well as teaching students about culture, a dose of it is also added to regular classes such as gym, where Aboriginal sports and games are incorporated to the regular curriculum.

The current Aboriginal-focused program stems from a 2010 agreement between the Langley School Board, the Kwantlen, Katzie and Matsqui First Nations, the Metis Nation and various other Aboriginal and educational groups.

The result is teachings consisting of a combination of many different Aboriginal traditions with lots of participation from the community.

There are about 1,650 Aboriginal students enrolled as of right now, but the program is inclusive to everyone.

“The non-Aboriginal students are equally exposed to Aboriginal culture, and they realize that it’s part of their culture as well,” said Wakeling, adding that help from the community is vital to the program’s success.

“As a result of the inclusiveness [of this program] we have a lot of participation from the Aboriginal community.”

The Kwantlen First Nation, for example, gave the schools a hand-carved canoe that the students reportedly take out from time-to-time.

According to Wakeling, there are about 100 new students this year, as well as two new teachers, and, according to Wakeling, the program continues to expand.

Along with teaching the students about culture and tradition, the school district hopes this program will increase the current secondary school completion rate for Aboriginal students, which currently averages at 60 per cent.