Northland School Division

Peerless Lake School values wheel

About a year ago, Peerless Lake School started the Curriculum Weaving Project. Audrey Anderson, Peerless Lake School Principal, Elders and representatives from Alberta Education, FMNI Field Services Branch and FMNI Curriculum Branch spoke to Northland School Division staff about the project on May 2nd. The presentation highlighted progress since the project began in June, 2012. Lorraine Cardinal-Roy from Alberta Education spoke about the Northland Community Engagement Framework and how important it’s been in developing this project. The 14 step framework includes key components like consulting with community members and Elders, collecting advice, developing a plan for action, understanding community and cultural protocol, community validation and continuous community engagement.

The project team consisting of  teachers, Elders, community members, parents and Alberta Education developed a values circle and incorporated these values into specific units such as Wetlands and Ecosystems. This unit uses the following Cree Values: 1. Wahkohtowin (kinship) 2. Kiskanowapahkiwin (keen sense of observation). Students use the values to investigate more about wetlands and ecosystems in Peerless Lake and Trout Lake. Louise Houle is teaching the class in Peerless Lake and is an Aboriginal Teachers Education Program (ATEP) student.

“The first couple of classes, students shared stories about what they knew about the wetlands and ecosystem in relation to Peerless Lake,” said Houle. “One day we walked over to my mother’s place, she’s one of the Elders and she shared her stories about Peerless Lake. She reinforced the importance of preserving some of our ecosystems including berry patches.”

Students were also able to gather information about fish population and water levels from a Fish and Wildlife Officer. Audrey Anderson says she believes the project is keeping students in school and the community support is growing. She also says they’re finding ways to improve by preserving knowledge from Elders and community members for future reference, making sure goals are communicated and hosting more public meetings. Anderson added that other schools should adapt this project because they will see improvements in students, parent and community engagement.