Staying home makes the grade for KIHS students

Killing, skinning, and feasting on a deer with your teacher and classmates doesn't sound like something students would do in a typical school. But the Keewatinook Internet High School (KIHS) is anything but typical.
Based in northern Ontario, the high school helps to provide a healthy alternative to students who are faced with leaving their reserve to continue their education beyond grade eight.
"Students leave for grade nine-they're a little young to be taken off (reserve) so the school gives them an opportunity to stay at home," school principal Darrin Potter explains.
Operating for eight years now, KIHS is an online program that offers a full grade 9 and 10 program, courses in grade 11 English and math, and grade 12 English.
In order to attend the school, students should be of First Nation descent with at least a grade eight education. Potter said the school is an ideal match for students if "they have trouble with traditional schooling."
"It's a good learning facility," said 17-year-old Riel Lyon from the Ojibway Nation of Saugeen. He is a perfect example of why First Nations students attend the high school. Lyon explains that he originally left his home to attend high school in Sioux Lookout. He said the experience was "nerve wracking" and that he turned into someone else.
"I became like a bad ass because I left," Lyon recalls. He attributes this change largely due to "being away from the support of my mother."
Potter said that the high school enables students to stay on reserve, allowing for parents and the larger community to be involved with their children's lives as much as possible.
Although Potter and science teacher Eli Pivnick are not Aboriginal people, they recognize the vast history of barriers and issues that First Nations people face in achieving quality education.
"It's a challenge," said Potter when asked about whether all parents are supportive of the students. "A lot of parents who live in our communities haven't had a great experience with the education system."
Although older generations are trying to deal with mistrust of the educational system, Pivnick highlights the differences of living in a First Nation community. Attitudes are different and things are much slower and more relaxed. Since the communities are mostly related, "there is more caring and sharing."
"The social fabric of the community is connected to the school," states Potter.
The staff are working to break down barriers to achieving academic success. The school model offers more support. Students work online in a small classroom and teachers are there to support them one-on-one if needed.
Pivnick, who is based out of Sachigo Lake First Nation, keeps in touch with the students parents. "The best way to contact parents is by getting involved in the community."
Staying involved in the community is also tied to the school's interest in and commitment to developing traditional land-based activities. The teachers work to develop activities that relate to the everyday environment of their students. "We don't talk about riding a streetcar in Toronto!" Pivnick jokes.
Potter goes on to explain, "We really encourage our teachers to come up with land-based activities. We've got funding to develop traditional activities." The school recently purchased canoes for a canoe trip this June.
Other traditional activities include netting and smoking fish with Elders as well as gathering medicinal plants with Elders. Pivnick hopes to help expose teenagers to traditional foods through these types of activities, explaining that "junk food is very prevalent."
Meanwhile, Lyon seems to be having some success at his new school. Along with five of his classmates, his teachers chose him to represent the school at York University's 29th annual Engineering and Science Olympics, held on May 6. The event was an opportunity for the six teens to visit the city of Toronto and test out their skills in events such as building and launching a small shuttle, using handheld GPS receivers to find hidden objects, and investigating the density of different types of sea water. Along with Lyon attending the York Olympics were Conrad Morris of Sachigo Lake First Nation; Wabun Quequish of Round Lake First Nation; Genevieve Beardy from North Caribou Lake First Nation; Iris Barkman from Sachigo Lake First Nation and April Mckay from Sachigo Lake First Nation.
Now back in his home community, Lyon said that his goals include graduating from high school, getting his driver's license, and becoming a police officer. He plans to stay and work in his home community. He encourages other youth to finish high school as well.