Report on the Increase of Aboriginal content in the regular school curriculum.
Result: Trend is that the number of curriculum topics is increasing.
Next Steps: Continue promotion of Aboriginal specific curriculum (FN Studies 12) while integrating Aboriginal culture into regular programs (Aboriginal novels in regular English, Shared Learnings, etc.). Continue to invite independent Band schools to participate with public schools.
Target: Continue to increase integration of Aboriginal curriculum across all curricular areas.
List of Content in Regular Curriculum
Grade 4 Social Studies Unit – all grade 4 classrooms in the district
District pow wow attended by all grade 4 students in the district, all students in the host school, and all Aboriginal students in the district (over 800 attended in 2012).
Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary School hosts Okanagan Days which is attended by all their students and all grade 4 students from around the district, including Band run schools.
Aboriginal author novels used – all secondary schools.
Water shed project with Okanagan Nations Alliance and Similkameen Elementary Secondary School.
Grade 3/4 classroom at Cawston Primary School working with ONA fisheries: Eggs to Fry Release.
Salmon life cycle with grade 1.
(Pictured above) Teaching about traditional foods including making bannock – grades 1, 4 and 5 at all schools.
Trading between First Nations and Europeans – Grade 5.
Talking Circles in grade 2/3 (Legends).
Teaching animals’ names in Okanagan using puppets with kindergarteners. ü Speetlum digging field trips.
Contributions First Nations people had introduced to early settlers at various schools.
Grade 3’s – building structures and discussion of the traditional homes of the Okanagan people at Okanagan Falls Elementary and Oliver Elementary School.
Crafts throughout various grades (all schools).
Levelled Aboriginal books are in school book rooms in all elementary schools.
Four Food Feast celebration – all schools completed.Deer feast at Similkameen Elementary Secondary School.
Drum making at all secondary schools and two elementary schools.
Drum and songs protocol. Traditional dancers to teach native dance.
Teaching about life lessons and making good choices through the use of legends and stories.
A variety of Aboriginal crafts taught, e.g., carving, leather work, painting pictographs.
Discussion on residential schools. v’ Visibility of Aboriginal culture through displays, pictures, artifact displays. v’ Building a traditional Okanagan structure for cooking and meeting. v’ Young men’s talking circle at Similkameen Elementary Secondary School. Discuss traditional protocols and ways of life. v’ Family Tree project as part of Okanagan language at Similkameen Elementary Secondary School and Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary School. v’ Nation mapping at Similkameen Elementary Secondary School. v’ Geography trip of traditional lands for OK Language class and FNS 12 class. v’ Traditional games being taught in PE at several schools. v’ Helping build a traditional Okanagan structure for cooking and meeting (has a food smoking cook area, meeting spaces, etc.) Similkameen Elementary Secondary School, Osoyoos Secondary School and Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary School were involved. v’ Similkameen Elementary Secondary School senior Okanagan Language students attend the Language Conference in Spokane. v’ National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation conference in Vancouver in February 2012 attended by 45 Aboriginal students. v’ Scared Straight program in Vancouver attended by 12 Southern Okanagan Secondary School students. v’ R’ Native voice for grades 8-12 students, partnering with the Okanagan Nations Alliance. v’ Nk’Mip Cultural Centre trips by many classrooms. v’ Scared Straight program (Southern Okanagan Secondary School). v’ Grade 2 unit on preparing for winter: discuss and demonstrate how the Okanagan people had to prepare for winter (dry salmon, elk, deer, moose, etc.; fuel for cooking and warmth, pit house shelter). v’ Okanagan peoples’ connection to land and environment lessons. v’ Okanagan peoples’ utilization of trees lessons. v’ Story telling with kindergarten and grade 1 class.