With growing numbers of First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) students enrolled in Rocky View Schools (RVS), the board of trustees has committed to supporting FNMI students and has teamed up with several community partners to build universal awareness and acceptance of aboriginal cultures.
FNMI learning specialist Teresa Cardinal was on hand at the April 11 board meeting to share some of the initiatives RVS is currently undertaking around FNMI programming.
“Part of what we’ve worked on is fostering a sense of belonging in a system that historically doesn’t do that,” Cardinal said.
She went on to tell trustees that part of creating a sense of belonging is providing teachers with authentic resources such as RVS’ purchase of several handmade artifacts to create what Cardinal refers to as a “travelling Glenbow Museum.”
RVS recently partnered with the United Way, which resulted in staff having access to professional learning opportunities in Edmonton focused on inter-generational trauma, the impact of Canada’s Residential School System and working with vulnerable youth.
“There really are no barriers for teachers to access support,” she said.
A partnership with the Me to We Sacred Circle Aboriginal Leadership Program afforded FNMI students in Grade 7 to 12 in Cochrane and Airdrie access to opportunities to enhance their leadership skills, learn about aboriginal culture and develop action plans to reach their goals in a two four-day workshops offered in the communities in the 2012 to 2013 school year.
Trustee Don Thomas asked Cardinal if budget cuts were to be made to the initiative what the impact would be on the programming.
“Knowing that the population (of FNMI students) is growing and our funding is based on those numbers, to me it wouldn’t make sense to cut those numbers,” she said.
“I would not be purposing cuts in FNMI,” said Superintendent of Schools Greg Bass.
In November of 2102, RVS had 686 FNMI students but at the April 11 meeting Cardinal told trustees the number has increased to 831.
She said the majority of FNMI students are in the kindergarten to Grade 8 level.
