Each year local K – 12 teaching staff from across the East Kootenay collaborate on professional development during a Regional Specialists Association (RSA) Day. This year’s RSA day took place last week and highlighted renowned keynote speaker, Dr. Martin Brokenleg.

Brokenleg (pictured above) is co-author of the internationally best selling book, Reclaiming Youth at Risk and co-founder of the Circle of Courage, an approach to youth guidance that draws on Native tribal wisdom in conjunction with early youth-work pioneer and youth development work. It outlines the four essential elements every child needs in order to flourish and thrive as belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity.

“As a district we understand this connection,” says Trustee Trina Ayling, School District No. 5 (SD5) representative for the Aboriginal Enhancement Agreement (AEA). “It’s important for all kids, yes, but especially for those students of Aboriginal ancestry as it speaks directly to who they are culturally.”

According to Jason Tichauer, the new Director of Student Learning and Aboriginal Education this approach pays off with higher-than-provincial-average graduation rates for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students. “Provincially, grad rates averaged 62% for Aboriginal and 80% for non-Aboriginal students over the past five years while SD5 averaged 73% and 83% respectively. There are a number of factors responsible for this success and addressing the whole child based on Aboriginal principals is one of them.”

Currently, 14 percent of SD5 students are of Aboriginal ancestry. The province provides annual targeted funding to support Aboriginal learning. These supports include Aboriginal Education Support Workers (AESW), an Elder’s program and the Welcoming Spaces Project, an initiative to increase awareness of Aboriginal culture throughout SD5.

For more information on Aboriginal education or supports, contact Jason Tichauer @ [email protected]

SD5

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