STUDY LOOKS AT INVOLVING ABORIGINAL ELDERS IN SCHOOLS

BURNABY – The Province is funding a study to determine how to better involve First Nations elders in schools, Education Minister Shirley Bond announced today during a visit to Clinton elementary school to mark Family Literacy Day.

“Aboriginal students are doing better than ever before, but more than half of these students still don’t graduate,” said Bond. “This study will determine effective ways to bring elders into classrooms to support Aboriginal students and encourage them to do better in school. It’s another way we are working to reach our goal of making B.C. the best-educated most literate jurisdiction on the continent.”

Aboriginal elders are experts in the areas of Aboriginal knowledge, language and culture, and schools can look to them for their teachings and experience. Some B.C. school districts invite local elders to share their knowledge and ceremonies with students, however, there have been no co-ordinated guidelines on how to make these programs most effective. The study will develop a guide for use by other districts.

The study includes three school districts with existing programs with elders: Burnaby, Haida Gwaii-Queen Charlotte and Qualicum. Staff from the three districts have reviewed available resources, shared experiences and are developing guidelines and written materials that can be shared with other districts.

For example, Qualicum district has an Elder-in-Residence program where an elder with the Qualicum First Nation spends one day a week at schools demonstrating traditional cultural activities and teaching life lessons, such as the importance of respect. The elder also acts as a leader for Aboriginal students and staff in the district.

“Our government has made it our goal to establish a new relationship with First Nations and eliminate the inequities facing Aboriginal people within the next 10 years,” said Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. “Aboriginal elders can be outstanding role models who inspire Aboriginal students to reach their full potential.”

The guide for schools and districts on elders in the classroom will be available for the 2006/07 school year. The Ministry of Education provided $10,000 to each of the three school districts participating in the study.

The Province has signed Aboriginal enhancement agreements that integrate First Nations culture in public schools in 22 districts and aims to complete agreements in all 60 districts. In addition, the Province provides $45 million a year – $950 per student – for Aboriginal education. The funds are used to support Aboriginal language and culture programs, Aboriginal support service programs, and other local Aboriginal education programs.

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For information on AchieveBC, visit www.achievebc.ca online.


Media contact:	Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Education 250 356-5963

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