TONIGHT: First Nation School Board - Virtual Q&A

This is an exciting time for education in the territory as school communities decide if the new First Nation School Board will best serve their students.

Five Schools Councils have passed resolutions to enter into a referendum for the school attendance area to vote. They need 50% plus one votes to convert their school to the new Board. They are:

• Chief Zzeh Gittlit School (Old Crow)

• Grey Mountain Primary School (Whitehorse)

• Johnson Elementary School & Watson Lake Secondary School (Watson Lake)

• Ross River School (Ross River)

• St. Elias Community School (Haines Junction)

Several school communities have requested Petition Packages from the Department of Education so that the residents of the attendance area can decide if they will have a referendum. They need 20% of the attendance area residents to sign by December 13. They are:

• JV Clark (Mayo)

• Takhini Elementary (Whitehorse)

• Hidden Valley Elementary (Whitehorse)

• Nelnah Bessie John School (White River)

Please visit www.yfned.ca/fnsb for more information.

Or attend our public Zoom Q&A on Dec 2 at the following link:https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84490631972?pwd=ZFNObFNlUVVKN0VxRnNGUDhYcmZ4Zz09

Meeting ID: 844 9063 1972 Passcode: 328493

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! First Nation Education Conference

Indigenous Schools Tour of B.C.

The YFNED Education team, along with Elders Dorothy Smith and Roger Ellis, and Yukon Native Language Centre specialists Sean Smith and Kelsey Jaggard, travelled south to explore and experience some of the best practices and programs that successful First Nations school communities use to engage and support students. They visited:

SenPokChin School: A small independent, First Nations school in Oliver, B.C., and the first on-reserve authorized Primary Years International Baccalaureate World School in North America.

School District #23 (Kelowna) Indigenous Education Program: Fostering Indigenous student success through the lens of equity.

Okanagan Mission School Land-Based Learning program: A rotational model in which students learn how their interaction with local Indigenous culture provides confidence in their ability to tackle new learnings and coursework.

School District #23 Gateway program: Alternative hands-on motivational learning for students in intermediate grades.

Rutland Secondary School - Indigenous Learning Community: Students earn graduation program credits with Indigenous curricular content taught through Indigenous ways.

ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱ Tribal School: Offers a full SENĆOŦEN language immersion program at K-3, and bilingual land-based program for grades 4-6. Located in Saanich, B.C.

W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Secondary School: Ensures the continued immersion of all learners in W̱SÁNEĆ culture and SENĆOŦEN language within a strong and leading education system for all students grades 7-12. Located in Saanich, B.C.

The Saanich Adult Education Centre: Enhances educational opportunities for Saanich Nation adults by offering courses and programs that are community-based and reflect Saanich Nation traditions and values.

The YFNED team met with many incredibly knowledgeable, dedicated educators, and saw first-hand a wide array of approaches to learning to guide the work of the Yukon First Nation School Board, and to support our ongoing efforts to increase Indigenous students’ success throughout the Yukon.

Advocates Update

YFNED’s First Nation Education Advocates have been working hard to support First Nations families and students both in and outside of school.

They held a Hand Games tournament at FH Collins Secondary with Elder Roger Ellis at the beginning of November. Later in the month, they worked with Elder Russel Burns to deliver trapping education to the Indigenous Academy at FH Collins Secondary.

For students that are not at school due to Covid-19, Advocates have been delivering homework materials and food hampers and providing additional supports.

Five First Nation Education Advocates completed their PAL course so they can safely and effectively engage in land-based cultural activities.

Firewood Camp

YFNED First Nation Education Advocates secured 21 cords of wood and set up a land-based Firewood Camp just outside Whitehorse. A dozen Junior Advocates and students from the Indigenous Academy at FH Collins Secondary enrolled in a Chainsaw Safety course and are now working to buck and deliver firewood to Elders with young children in their care.

Winter Break Hampers

MTU in Watson Lake

The Wellness Team and some of the Allied Health Team of the YFNED Mobile Therapeutic Unit spent three fantastic days in Watson Lake with classes from both Johnson Elementary School and Watson Lake Secondary School.

The workshops were split into grade categories, with the high school students focusing on screen-printing, collage, painting and DJ-music production. The elementary school focused on a breakdancing workshop that was hosted by facilitators Alex Robinson and Benji Robertson. On the third day, the Liard First Nation hosted a traditional Hand Games tournament for the elementary school students.

The workshops were a total success — everyone had a great time, connected with our team and learned on a variety of levels.

 As travel to the communities has been temporarily shut down due to Covid-19 restrictions, the MTU has been making the most of its time in Whitehorse to support students remotely, planning, training and making travel plans for 2022. 

Welcome New Staff

Reg McGinty joins the YFNED Senior Leadership Team as the new Director of Indigenous Education and Advocacy. Reg is from the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun.

Coralee Buchanan is a new addition to the Early Years team as an Early Years Visitor and is of Metis ancestry.

Michelle Beckley has also joining the Early Years team as an Early Years Visitor. She is a member of the Teslin Tlingit Council.

Linda Huebschwerlen is joining us as an Early Years Visitor in January. She’s a member of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation.

Meaghan Kimmitt is joining YFNED as a First Nation Education Advocate.

Glen Rear joins our Nutrition Team as a Cook. Glen is a member of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.

May Javar joins our Nutrition Team as a Cook.

Jonah Platko joins our Nutrition Team as a Cook.

For full staff bios and headshots, please visit our Meet the Team page on our website.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Dec 3-12 Winter Break Hampers

Dec 13 Deadline: First Nation School Board Petitions

Jan 19&20 Annual First Nation Education Conference

Jan 27 First Nation School Board Referendum closes