Province backs elders on school pilot project

Dec 15, 2021 | Canada, Living, MANITOBA

Province backs elders on school pilot project

By Maggie Macintosh , Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

More than 30 schools across Manitoba will soon welcome elders and knowledge keepers to provide cultural teachings to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students as part of a new provincial pilot.

Education Minister Cliff Cullen announced Tuesday the province has earmarked $275,000 for a project that aims to support the involvement of elders in K-12 buildings. Mentorship programs, lessons on culture, language and traditional knowledge, and consultation will all be part of the new initiative.

“The voices of elders and knowledge keepers are critical toward successful impacts for teachers, students and families through respectful relationships and approaches,” Cullen said in a provincial news release.

The experts’ work will promote the inclusion of First Nations, Métis and Inuit histories, culture, traditional values, contemporary lifestyles and traditional knowledge in curricula, according to the release.

The pilot is slated to roll out across 33 schools in Flin Flon, Fort La Bosse, Frontier, Hanover, Lord Selkirk, Mountain View, Pembina Trails, Portage la Prairie, Prairie Rose, Mystery Lake, and St. James-Assiniboia school districts.

Schools were selected based on factors including socio-economic index, geography — given the province wanted to target urban, northern and rural sites — and location in a division with a continuum of elder and knowledge keeper involvement and engagement.

Some divisions in Manitoba, including the largest of its kind in Winnipeg, currently employ elders-in-residence who already support Indigenous education initiatives and consult on education-related matters.

The latest provincial program was developed with input from Manitoba’s elders and knowledge keepers in schools advisory council, community consultations, and conversations with division leaders.

This item is reprinted with permission from Winnipeg Free Press, Manitoba. See article HERE.

If you wish to comment on this story, click HERE for the Discussion Board at TheRegional.com/AlbertaChat.com

Recent Comments

G. Reed on ABO Wind sings praises of proposed projectABO is creating a disaster as it is right on a major migratory bird route. Not far from here is the tow…
Ben Dover on Kahnawa’kehró:non experiences discrimination at driving centreOne minority offending another minority. The tail wagging the paw. This is what diversity gets you, dis…
G. Reed on Why is Indigenous Veterans Day SeparateIndigenous Veterans' Day is separate because it perpetuate the racial stereotype that Indigenous both r…
G. Reed on “JUST THE BEGINNING”: First Nations leaders break ground in Winnipeg on country’s largest urban reserveI thought you were going to dig up the landfill and reclaim the mass children's graves first.
Eileen Dover on ‘DULF, as We Knew It, Is Dead’Drug users need to get sober or they will soon die. That is the reality. To help them get any drugs is…

RECENT POSTS

MOST POPULAR – LAST 14 DAYS

Co-ops give communities tools to solve their own problems, panel says Problems like housing, food costs, and homelessness are probably going to fall back to communities to try and…
Blood Sport, a play about claiming Indigenous identity, included in theatre festival The recent news that calls into question Buffy Sainte-Marie’s claims of Indigenous ancestry makes January Rogers’ latest play…
‘DULF, as We Knew It, Is Dead’ ‘Break unjust laws’ was a mantra at the rally, with speakers comparing DULF’s actions to the work of…
Why is Indigenous Veterans Day Separate National Indigenous Veterans Day is a day observed in Canada recognizing Indigenous Veterans for their contributions to military…
Cyber attack continues to cripple CKHA The investigation into the cyber attack that continues to cripple communications at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance has expanded…
Council refines ‘bold’ plans for new multi-use recreation center A new acronym appeared in the Penetanguishene committee of the whole at the recent meeting when the multi-use…
Concerns over local policing costs related to Red Fish Healing Centre raised by Port… Red Fish Healing Centre. photo suppliedPatrick Penner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Port Coquitlam council, much like their neighbours in…
New Brunswick to give entire deposit back on beverage containers New Brunswick plans on giving consumers their entire deposit back on drink containers as of April 1.Submitted For…
Kahnawa’kehró:non experiences discrimination at driving centre Xavier Dearhouse was recently asked to leave the Valleyfield Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) after he…
Farmers face myriad mental health risk factors Whether you think of it as a job or a lifestyle, farming comes with a lot of stress.…