updated 8 May 2013
ABORIGINAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
The life of a person is a circle from childhood to childhood. Within each child lies our future and our past.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Aboriginal Student Teacher Conference
L.V. Rogers recently hosted the first regional Future Aboriginal Teachers Conference to promote teaching as a possible career option for many First Nations youth. Last week, over 150 students from three school districts with First Nations ancestry converged on the school to look at a future career in education. The highlights of the one-day gathering included a group round dance, grass dance demonstration, post-secondary school program displays and counselling, drumming, panel discussion, a talk with Ktunaxa counselor and mentor Joe Pierre, a variety of student-oriented workshops, and an amazing salmon lunch! Thanks to all the organizers and those that supported this important event!
Drumming Leaders Lead
Jesse Halton and the Aboriginal Education student drummers (Joelle Lino-Wiseman, Amanda Eady, Kayla Wilding, and Tressa Ford) spent a fantastic morning last week drumming for (and with!) group of students from St. Joseph School. A terrific tradition keeps right on rolling! Here's a ton of pictures for your viewing pleasure.
Dog-Sledding Fever Returns
As has become tradition in the Aboriginal Education Program, dog-sledding fever takes hold this time of the year. The first of several groups of Aboriginal Education students, led by the program's Jesse Halton, ventured to Salmo's Spirit of the North Kennels this week. With musher-extraordinaire, the group learned about the dogs, their mentality, their power, and their personalities, too! And oh what fun they had! Photos courtesy of Jesse Halton. Video courtesy of Rolland Bissonette.
Program Fall LunchNovember usually means rain in Nelson, but it also indicates that the annual Aboriginal Educational Fall Lunch has arrived. This week the Ab-Ed program hosted its annual 'fill yer belly' lunch for its students. Our Aboriginal Youth and Family Liaison, Jesse Halton, cooked up a storm serving bannock tacos (yes, they ARE as good as they sound!) to over forty-two students and special guests. Thanks to elders Bob and Lynn Adams, our dear friend Jackie Cole, Murray Shunter and Danica Lee from Trafalgar Middle School, Mr. Schmidt, and Mr. Huttemann for joining us! And a big THANK YOU! to Jesse for his amazing cooking! Photos courtesy of Jesse Halton. For more information about the LVR Aboriginal Education program please visit our webpage.
Credits Available: Independent Directed Studies
All students in the Aboriginal Education program are permitted to enrol in an Independent Directed Studies course in order to study an area of First Nations heritage of great personal interested. Details are being finalized, but students will be able to earn either four credits (100 hours of course work) or two credits (50 hours of course work) over the course of two years. A brochure will be available at the beginning of August of suggested options and ideas for students to pursue including working with a local elder, learning a native language, learning specific First Nations art or carving, creating moccasins or indigenous jewellery, etc. For more information, please contact us at lvr@sd8.bc.ca or call 250.354.5538 ext. 5465.
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Snowshoeing at Nancy Greene
A group of twelve Aboriginal Education students spent Friday learning, snowshoeing, and building at Nancy Greene Provincial Park. With insights and expertise from their guide, Shanoon, the group learned about the local flora and fauna and their uses by the Sinixt First Nation people for over 9000 years (Did you know: The 'original' chewing gum came from the pitch of pine trees? And it's the water hemlock that is poisonous and not its common western hemlock cousin?). After a lunch in the warming hut the intrepid group worked on snow-shelter building activity! Thanks again to Shanoon for her time and energies!
LVR Ab-Ed Newsletter
Our Fall 2012 Newsletter is now available! Get you copy by clicking HERE.
Our Mother Drum Awakens
The Aboriginal Education program continues is tradition of Wednesday meets around the big drum. The group meets Wednesdays at lunch in Room 106. All are welcome to sit and enjoy or, even better, take a seat at our 'mother drum'. It's a very empowering and powerful experience you won't soon forget!
An Ab-Ed Morning with Jewett Elementary
Last week, the Ab-Ed drumming group spent the morning with students from Jewett Elementary school sharing drumming history, singing, and drumming. Thanks to everyone for a fantastic morning in the sunshine. Afterwards, a student from Jewett remarked, " You make learning history fun!". Perfect. Thanks to the senior drummers Kayla Wilding, Joelle Lino-Wiseman, and Merope Chappell for their leadership.
LVR Gets Its Own TeepeeThe LVR Aboriginal Education Program recently purchased its very own teepee. This week it arrived and the school community was invited to participate in learning about this 10 000 year old piece of technology. Over four days, twelve classes spent 40-60 minutes learning about Anishinaabe culture including the significant role that the world's first recreational vehicle--the teepee--played in many First Nations' way of life. First though, a group of twenty-five Ab-Ed students spent an entire day with teepee builder, Tony Solomon, learning proper protocol, the history, using the teepee, and how to efficiently raise and lower the teepee. The group was able to effectively erect the twenty-two foot teepee in just under fifteen minutes! Many thanks to Tony (Mukwa Teepees) and co-facilitator Delphine for sharing their stories, wisdom, and knowledge. Next spring, the teepee will be made available to any interested LVR groups for use as an outdoor teaching environment. For more information about the teepee feel free to contact Jesse Halton or Jeff Yasinchuk at 250.354.5538 x.5465.
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Unique Features of the Program
- A drop-in ROOM (Room 108) with tea, coffee, a computer, and microwave for Ab-Ed student use. All students are welcome to drop in for a visit and say "Hi", during breaks, lunch, and before and after classes. There is also a small supply of beading and art materials, too. Room 108 also offers our senior students a quiet area to work during their 'spares'.
- We offer academic SUPPORT for students wishing assistance with all subjects. See Mr. Yaz or Jackie for details.
- Whole lot of RESOURCES. We have a growing collections of various books, DVDs, brochures, magazines, and other Aboriginal and cultural resources including post-secondary opportunities and scholarship application forms. Opportunities for Ab-Ed students to enter art, writing, and poetry contests throughout the year. All of these resources are available for student use. Just let us know if you are signing something out from Room 108 so we can keep track!
- The spirit of our program is supplied by energetic and engaging young adults, like YOU! We want you to take advantage of the flexibility and variety that the Aboriginal Program provides! For example, our drumming program takes place the first Wednesday of every month in Room 108. All Ab-Ed students are welcome to join us and sit at the drum!
What Opportunities Does the Program Offer?
The Ab-Ed program at L.V. Rogers offers all students of First Nations ancestry the opportunity to:
- ACCESS to academic, social and emotional support;
- PURSUE an Independent Language Study for credit in Grade 10 (i.e. Cree, Michif, etc.);
- PARTICIPATE in several culturally-based trips and community events, including our First Nations Studies 9/10 course
- FULFILL the Grad Transitions program for graduation by volunteering hours within the First Nations community;
- OBTAIN information on scholarships and post-secondary funding specifically for students with First Nations ancestry; and
- APPLY for Metis citizenship and explore possible 'status' eligibility under the Indian Act.
Recommended Aboriginal Education Resources
SD8 Aboriginal Education website is a great resource and a way to see what else is going on in other Aboriginal Education programs around the school district! As well you can find a link to the Enhancement Agreement, a document that guides all Ab-Ed programs in the district. It has been designed and supported by SD8, the British Columbia Ministry of Education, and all First Nations groups represented in the district.
First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) is another first-rate resource for Aboriginal Education.
Jesse has access to hundreds of articles, books, magazines, and other resources to help students apply for Indian status, Metis status, research post-secondary funding opportunities, and a wealth of rich literature by First Nations authors.
First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) is another first-rate resource for Aboriginal Education.
Jesse has access to hundreds of articles, books, magazines, and other resources to help students apply for Indian status, Metis status, research post-secondary funding opportunities, and a wealth of rich literature by First Nations authors.
Contact our Staff
- Jesse Halton is our Aboriginal Youth Worker and Family Liaison and can be found either in his office in the library or in Room 108 Mondays (all day), Tuesdays & Thursdays & Fridays (a.m.), and Wednesdays (p.m.). You can email him anytime at jhalton@sd8.bc.ca or call 250.352.5538 (ext. 5465) to leave him a message.
- Mr. Yaz is the Aboriginal Education Program Coordinator and can be found mainly in the library (he is also the teacher-librarian and staff techie!). You can reach him at jyasinchuk@sd8.bc.ca or at 250.354.5400. You can even text him at 250.505.4451 or better yet, drop by the library.
