indigenous education advisory committee and elders …

INDIGENOUS EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ELDERS COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake), Board Office

570 Johnstone Road, Nelson, B.C. Feb. 13, 2019

PRESENT

Gail Higginbottom – District Principal of Aboriginal Education Sheri Walsh – Trustee Bob Adams – Metis Elder Maurice Trudel – Metis Community Member Don Courson – Metis Elder Jesse Halton – KLTF Teacher Representative Darrel Jones - Splatsin-Secwepemc Representative Candice Begg – CUPE Alternate Danica Weager – Indigenization Coordinator Julia Arnold – Student Rep Dylan Peil – Student Rep

VIA CONFERENCE CALL

Laury Carriere – SD8 PVP Rep Becky Coons – Trustee

REGRETS

Anita Early – CUPE Representative Rhonda Basil – Lower Kootenay Band Rep Carter Pelly – Student Rep Olivia Kettle – Student Rep Jennifer Lewis, ONA Rep Shelly Boyd, Sinixt (Arrow Lakes) rep

GALLERY Dr. Christine Perkins - Superintendent Debbie Sabourin - KLTF Doug Kunzelman – KLTF (via conference call) Shannon Ellis - Secretary

1. CALL TO ORDER

District Principal Higginbottom called the meeting to order at 12:47 PM

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ABORIGINAL TERRITORY We acknowledge, respect and honor the First Nations in whose traditional

territories the Kootenay Lake School District operates and all Aboriginal people residing within the boundaries of School District#8.

2. CIRCLE INTRODUCTIONS

3. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

The agenda of the February 13, 2019 Aboriginal Advisory Committee and Elders Council Meeting was adopted as circulated.

Minutes – Indigenous Education Advisory Committee and Elders Council Meeting School District 8 Kootenay Lake February , 2019 Page | 2

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the November 1, 2018 Aboriginal Advisory Committee and EldersCouncil Meeting was approved as circulated.

OPENING PRAYER

J. Halton sang the Heartbeat Song.

4 REMARKS FROM D. JONES JONES – SPLATSIN - SECWEPEMC

General update on Nation business and education. They are moving towards a Memorandum of Understanding.

5 DISTRICT PRINCIPAL HIGGINBOTTOM PRESENTATION App A

Questions:

M. Trudel – Is the staffing increased from two years ago?G. Higginbottom - Staffing is based on targeted funding and student identificationas of September 30th each year.

D. Jones – Is SD8 using the transportation agreement funding?G. Higginbottom had been working with Bussing for the tri-partite agreement forstudents on reserve and will look at off reserve funding.

Comments:

D. Courson – Spoke about ISPARC and potential partnership opportunities withthe Metis Nation in the future.

6 ENHANCEMENT AGREEMENT AND RECONCILIATION POLICY App B

Comments:

B. Coons – Would like to see everyone respectful delivery of the TerritoryAcknowledgment; appreciates that there will be a Creston version to honour thespecific territory there.

D. Jones – Regardless of difficulties in delivery, the attempt to Acknowledge isappreciated; the most important piece is to begin the acknowledgement and growskills and authenticity from there.

Action:

G. Higginbottom will take this draft of the Territory Acknowledgements to ChiefJason Louise

All committee members were given an anti-bullying shirt with Aboriginal language. On the back of each shirt, words were shared from each nation to support the sentiments of Pink Shirt day.


Questions:

D. Courson – Can he have an electronic version of the Draft EnhancementAgreement/Reconciliation policy so that he can share with the community?D. Weager – at this point, the Draft Reconciliation policy is for this council.

M. Trudel – Can new staff have an orientation to Enhancement Agreements?G.Higginbottom – yes, a roll out plan / tool kit will be part of the new TerritoryAcknowledgement.

C. Begg – Can the Enhancement Agreement be posted as a banner is a main space.

Julia Arnold - commented that students will appreciate them in a public space.

D. Jones – Would it be possible to host Schools/Community dinners in order toeducate.G. Higginbottom – yes, this does happen already across the district, but this is anexcellent suggestion to grow.

B. Coons – Can we add a phonetic spelling?G. Higginbottom - yes

7 EQUITY SCAN App C

Activity facilitated by Dr. Perkins, J. Halton, G. Higginbottom, L Carriere, D. Weager

Comments:

M. Trudel - “Stakeholders” has a negative connotation and should be removedfrom the document.G. Higginbottom – yes, will be removed

Actions:

Remove the word “stakeholder’ from the document.

8 KLTF REMARKS

D. Kunzelman referenced a letter that he wrote to the Board of Trustees earlier inthe year.

Motion:

That the Aboriginal Education Advisory Committee and Elders Council recommend to the Board of Directors to amend Policy 121 to include two KLTF representatives on committee.

Vote:

All in favor – motion carried. Action:

The G. Higginbottom will bring the motion to the Board.


CLOSING

NEXT MEETING

The next Indigenous Education Advisory Committee and Elders Council Meetings are scheduled for:

April 5th, 2019 at the 12:30pm PST to 3:00pm

All meetings held at the Nelson School Board Office

10. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 3:21 PM

SD8, Kootenay Lake - AEACECAboriginal Education Advisory Committee and

Elders’ CouncilFeb. 13, 2019

Celebration of Indigenous Culture

FitNation and Aboriginal Run/Walk FitNation - Indigenous fitness program from ISPARC - we are running a community drop-in on Monday afternoons and supporting PE integration - over 200 participants to date!

June 21 - 5km “wuqanq̓ankimik” walk/run - Salmo, BC - all welcome!

GrantsThe Ab Ed Department has successfully received 4 grants this year: ● $500 from ISPARC for the FitNation

program● $1000 from ISPARC for the run/walk

program● $5000 from Healthy Schools BC for the

run/walk● $15000 over 3 years from the

Columbia Basin Trust for the Youth Pow Wow!

9th Annual SD8 Pow Wow and Grad Honouring

● Friday May 17th, 2019 - Creston Rec Centre

● Grad Honouring Ceremony in afternoon session

● Poster coming - Mount Sentinel Academy students working on a “pow wow poster challenge”

● Students starting drum and dance lessons after spring break

Staffing Plan

BC Tripartite Ed Agreement

● Replaces previous Tripartite Education Framework Agreement● BC’s commitment:

○ Boards of education will discuss school transportation with First Nations

○ First Nations schools and Boards of Education have historically entered into LEAs, which will continue and be encouraged. ■ Funding to support First Nations in LEA negotiations

○ Improved accountability and reporting○ Professional Development

District Pro-D - Jo Chrona

Pro-D - Carmen Rodriguez

● Sharing Resources to Indigenize the curriculum and experiential activities.

● Hosted at Ainsworth Hot Springs, April 8

● 10:00-2:00

SD8, Kootenay Lake: Aboriginal Scholarships

Total ABED budget each year: 10,000Divided into schools for Specific Aboriginal Self-Identified students, scholarshipsValued at 1,000 each:

ONA Fisheries: FINS Fish in Schools = FINS

● Salmon reintroduction along the Columbia waterways!● Program piloted last year in SD20, successfully● An important program to the Syilx peoples● Stewardship of the lands, waterways● About emergence and growth● Will wrap up in June with a Salmon ceremony, in Castlegar● SD8 ABED school involvement:

Salmo Elementary, South Nelson ElementaryMt. Sentinel, WE Graham

Role Model Posters ● Our dream is to have Indigenous role model

posters visible in all schools across the district

● Nation Partners identified role models and we have been reaching out

● We have been asked the questions: ○ What advice would you give a young

Indigenous student to reach their goals?

○ What was it that made the difference to you?

● Mount Sentinel students working on poster design

Staff Honouring Ceremony

● During the last week of school before winter break, the District Ab Ed Team visited each school in the district

● Each of the Ab Ed team members was gifted with “contemporary” regalia :) in the form of a hoodie with our logos

● Staff participated in a honouring ceremony as part of this process

SD8 AB ED Website

Visit: https://sd8learns.sd8.bc.ca/abed/● For information about

our programs, upcoming events, student celebrations and more!

● Website getting updated in the summer with a new look

https://sd8learns.sd8.bc.ca/abed/

New Zealand Update

● About 10 students signed up● Chaperones interviewed and

selected: Toni Appleby, Ki Louie, Janet Zarchukoff

● We want 15, so we are still actively recruiting.

● Spring break, 2020

Newsletter

● 4 issues per year● Distributed by email,

on the website, and paper copies

● Contributions from students and staff from all families of schools

● Celebrations!

SD8, Kootenay Lake: Territory Acknowledgement

DRAFTS:

SD8 acknowledges and respects the Ktunaxa, the Sinixt (Arrow Lakes), the Syilx (Okanagan), and the Secwepemc (Shuswap) peoples on whose unceded Traditional Territories we are honoured to work upon. We give our thanks to these Nations for maintaining the beauty and safety of the lands. We honour all Aboriginal peoples who reside within this traditional territory and homeland.

In Creston which is undisputed Ktunaxa Territory, a 2nd version to honour the Ktunaxa Nation:

SD8 acknowledges and respects the Ktunaxa peoples on whose unceded Traditional Territories we are honoured to work upon. We give our thanks to this Nation for maintaining the beauty and safety of the lands. We honour all Aboriginal peoples who reside within this traditional territory and homeland.

**We are hoping to meet with Chief Jason Louie, LKB and/or Chief and Council to confirm this acknowledgement. Once confirmed, we will then bring back to the School Board for formal acceptance by SD8, Kootenay Lake.

Enhancement Agreement and Reconciliation Policy

Please review and bring feedback back to the next Advisory Council.

Equity in Action:

The Indigenous Education Equity Scan Project

Provincially led by the Equity in Action Team at the Ministry of Education

Dr. Scott Benwell and Kaleb Child, Musgamdzi.

Protocols for Equity Scan Work:

1. Stay engaged2. Speak your truth3. Experience discomfort4. Realize we may not reach closure on all topics5. Listen for understanding6. No fixing7. Take risks

Teachings from the Syilx People (Okanagan Nation Alliance)

Four Food Chiefs

#1: BITTERROOT - Compassion -

Think of an Indigenous student who you know needs some extra support with their life. Write down one idea/reflection that you can do to support this person.

2-3 minutes

Guided Inquiry:

How do all levels of the school system in SD8 work together to create a learning environment that is equitable for Aboriginal students, supporting existing structures in the district including the new Territory Acknowledgement, the District Enhancement Agreement and district, school, district and team goals/visions?

Did You Know?

○ Did you know that students who don’t graduate live 10 years less than those who do?

○ Did you know that Grade 4 FSA results are a determinant for graduation success of Indigenous students?

○ Did you know that Indigenous student provincial exams marked anonymously score higher than teacher graded assignments? And, the reverse is true for non-Indigenous students.

About the Equity ScanThe Equity Scan was developed by the Aboriginal Education branch of the Ministry of Education in 2016/17 in response to the following:

• Report of the Office of the Auditor General (2015)

• Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action

• United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People

Icebreaker

Bucket toss- PRIZES!!

Objectives

• To identify promising practices and barriers that are impacting Indigenous student achievement and success.

• To provide direction at the district, school, and classroom level: how do we positively impact Indigenous student achievement?

Why?At the current trajectory, it will take one full generation to close the academic achievement gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. That is too long to wait.

The Equity Scan: A collaborative process designed to positively impact Indigenous student achievement and success in a more efficient and effective way than is currently happening.

Conduct Equity Scan (gather info)

Build District Equity Profile (compile and analyze info)

Create Theory of Change

(make plan))

Create Equity Action Plan

(do it)

1. Conduct the Equity Scan: (gather the information)How do all levels in SD8 create an equitable learning environment?

– Survey all partners on equity: policy, learning environment, teaching and learning, and learning needs.

– Partners include: trustees, senior administration, PVP, PAC, schools, TF, CUPE, students, families, community organizations, community members, and Nation partners.

The results form the Equity Scan Profile. Conduct Equity Scan (gather info)

2. Build District Equity Profile (compile and analyze info)• Collate all the information to show areas of strengths and challenges.

• Identify the areas of inequities and gaps on an individual, school, and district level.

Build District Equity Profile (compile and analyze info)

Fit Nation: Movement is Medicine

• “Mosquito-Salmon-Bear” Rock Paper Scissors – Bear eats Salmon – Salmon eats Mosquito– Mosquito eats bear

• How to play: find a partner, stand back to back and count to three; on three turn around as your animal of choice

• After each match, find another person who is a mosquito, bear, or salmon (same as you) – Walk around as your animal until you find someone to match with – Replay

3. Create a Theory of Change (make a plan)

Determine the desired future on an individual, school, and district level and a plan of how to get there.

Create Theory of Change

(make plan))

4. Create an Equity Action Plan(do it)

Address the needs of individual Indigenous students in schools.

Create Equity Action Plan

(do it)

Key Pieces for Success

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwcM9NPWWtc

Reflection #2:

BLACK BEAR: CULTURE -

Write down how culture is alive in this video - 2-3 minutes

The following 4 slides demonstrate a visual history over time of education for Indigenous students…

Kamloops Residential School

St. Eugene’s Mission, Cranbrook, BC

Trafalgar Middle School:Aboriginal Youth Conference

2015

Elder, Duncan Grady:Lakeside Park, Wild Meat Feast

2015

Reflection #3:

SALMON: - Action -

How has learning for Indigenous students changed from 100 years ago?

2-3 minutes

Kahoothttps://play.kahoot.it/#/k/956ba713-4bdc-4872-ba36-2995bc2c7bcd

Participants go to: kahoot.it Enter the PIN Enter your nickname Get ready to play!

https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/956ba713-4bdc-4872-ba36-2995bc2c7bcd

https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/956ba713-4bdc-4872-ba36-2995bc2c7bcd

#4: SASKATOON BERRY No Barriers -

What opportunities would you like to see for Indigenous students in SD8?

We want to hear from you...

Follow this link to access the electronic survey or request a paper copy

https://goo.gl/forms/ES8drI2hXpYfbBAk2

https://goo.gl/forms/ES8drI2hXpYfbBAk2

“We have described for you a mountain. We have shown you the path to the top. We call upon you to do the climbing.”

Justice Murray Sinclair, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Chair

*This important work was based on Syeyutsus Reconcilaton Framework from SD68 https://www.sd68.bc.ca/board/syeyutsus-

reconciliation-framework/

The artwork for this Framework was created by Freya Emery, student from Mount Sentinel Secondary School

Updated April 2, 2019

Territory Acknowledgement

SD8 Kootenay Lake acknowledges and respects the Ktunaxa, the Sinixt (Arrow Lakes),

the Syilx (Okanagan), and the Secwepemc (Shuswap) peoples on whose unceded

Traditional Territories we are honoured to work upon. We give our thanks to these

Nations for maintaining the beauty and safety of the lands. We honour all Aboriginal

peoples who reside within this traditional territory and homeland.

In Creston which is Ktunaxa Territory:

SD8 Kootenay Lake acknowledges and respects the Ktunaxa peoples on whose unceded

Traditional Territories we are honoured to work upon. We give our thanks to this

Nation for maintaining the beauty and safety of the lands. We honour all Aboriginal

peoples who reside within this traditional territory and homeland.

https://www.sd68.bc.ca/board/syeyutsus-reconciliation-framework/






Our Story

Our journey began in early 2018, with the start of the new year and with our students

at the centre. The Aboriginal Education Department created a timeline for working

towards a renewed Enhancement Agreement - our third agreement. We first started

in winter of 2018 by meeting with the Salmo, Slocan Valley, and Kaslo Family of

Schools. In attendance were parents, grandparents, students, community advocates,

Aboriginal Education department staff, school trustees, principals and vice-principals,

and the superintendent. Some of these gatherings attracted more people than others;

however, discussions related to the efficacy of the 2014-2019 Enhancement

Agreement ensued and the voices present were heard. In the spring of 2018, the

District Principal of Aboriginal

Education and the Superintendent of

Schools began visiting with our Nation

partners, in their communities, to

introduce the district and extend an

invitation to Nations to help provide

guidance to our district.

In the fall of 2018, community

consultations resumed and at this point

they were held in Creston and Nelson.

Discussions and consultations were then

held at the Aboriginal Education

Advisory Committee and Elders’ Council

(AEACEC) in which representatives from

our Nation Partners were present. In

the winter of 2019, Aboriginal student

leadership groups from Nelson and Kaslo

were consulted for their feedback and

ideas. After this, in the spring of 2019,

ABED staff were engaged in

conversation as draft policy writing

began.

Thematically, at all consultations, we

heard that the goals of the 2014-2019

EA were still relevant to our partners;

perhaps the ways in which we had been

going about achieving these goals had







been shifting. Since the time of writing that Enhancement Agreement, much has

evolved and much progress has occurred, such as Canada’s signing of the United

Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the BC Auditor

General’s Report (2015), the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) launch of the Calls to

Action, the Indigenization of BC’s new curriculum, and the shift in expectations from

the Ministry of Education regarding Enhancement Agreements. Although our partners

shared that the meaning behind the goals was still important, we were in need of a

new way of working towards these goals. This process ended with a commitment to

work together on a journey of reconciliation through the SD8 Reconciliation

Framework - a district policy framework.

School District 8 Kootenay Lake Reconciliation Framework

SD8 Reconciliation Framework is a significant step forward for Kootenay Lake School

District. The goal of Reconciliation was established in collaboration with School

District 8 AEACEC, Nation Partners, students, parents, and staff in response in

response to Canada’s Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action and is underpinned by the

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). We are

committed to continue working together on the journey of Reconciliation.

1. Metis Nation - mamawii (Michif Language) - Meaning: “Altogether” - Working

together to build strong connections between Indigenous students, families,

communities, and schools.

2. Syilx and Sinixt (Arrow Lakes) Nation- mipnwíxʷ (nsyilxcən Language) -

Meaning: “Get to know each other” - Taking responsibility of learning and

teaching the Truth of the history, culture, diversity, and issues related to

Indigenous peoples.

3. Secwepemc Nation - wenecwstsin (Secwepemctsin Language) - Meaning “Speak

our Truths” - Addressing the achievement/opportunity gap in support of

success for all Indigenous learners.

4. Ktunaxa Nation - akiǂwiʾis (Ktunaxa Language) - Meaning “My Heart” -

Encouraging a strong sense of belonging, pride, and identity for Indigenous

students.

Honouring the languages of those who have walked this land since time immemorial

teaches about resilience and walking in two worlds. School District 8 Kootenay Lake

commits to honouring these teachings from our territory partners and using the SD8

Reconciliation Framework to guide this important work.



indigenous education advisory committee and elders …

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