Offering an Aboriginal perspective in education

Penny Ross

Aboriginal educator, Penny Ross, says that in nature things come “in fours”: for example, the four seasons, the four directions, the four elements. That is why she uses the hand held drum, which represents the known universe, as a visual teaching aid when delivering programs at the Evergreen School Division’s eight schools.
Ross has been with the Evergreen School Division since 2003, offering Aboriginal resources part-time. In 2006, an Aboriginal Academic Achievement (AAA) grant made it possible for the division to deliver an Aboriginal education program on a full-time basis.
The “Evergreen School Division Aboriginal Lifelong Learning Model” was created, offering Aboriginal content to 1,600 students from “Kindergarten Here I Come” all the way up to grade 12. Teachers in the school division call Ross, whose resource room is located at Gimli High School, requesting that she come into their classrooms throughout the year to integrate the Aboriginal (First Nations, Metis, and Inuit) perspective into the classroom curriculum.
“It’s not just for Aboriginal students…It’s a big deal because it is our Canadian history. People don’t necessarily recognize that or acknowledge that,” Ross said.
Ross has developed a comprehensive collection of resources over the years, continuously making additions. The library, which started with 100 out-dated books, has grown to more than 4,000 items, which includes reading materials and a wide range of fascinating artefacts. Ross has assembled numerous curriculum-based “kits” specific to student age groups. She is able to incorporate an Aboriginal perspective into nearly every school subject.
“The Aboriginal perspective is a natural fit in many areas of the curriculum,” she said. “The students, they’re keen on everything.”
Ross has also brought in numerous people from the Aboriginal community to give talks and workshops to students: Michael Many Eagles, a soapstone carver, visited Riverton Collegiate; Sherry Quesnel talked about diversity to Riverton Early Middle School students, and taught them how to make a “four-nations” choker; In May, Ruth Christie, a Metis Elder from Selkirk, will visit student at Arborg Early Middle School when grade 8 exchange students will be visiting from Quebec.
The program’s mission is to promote Aboriginal perspectives and improve success of Aboriginal students in Evergreen School Division. While doing this, it is also proving to bolster Aboriginal students’ own sense of value.
The number of students in the Evergreen School Division who now are self-identifying as Aboriginal has risen significantly, to 21 per cent, according to school superintendent, Paul Cuthbert, who is pleased that Aboriginal students in the division are gaining a sense of pride in their heritage.
“ Aboriginal students develop a positive self-image and pride through learning their own histories, cultures, traditional values, contemporary lifestyles and traditional knowledge,” said Ross in a recent presentation to the Evergreen School Board.
“ Through respect and understanding both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students can appreciate the value of Aboriginal peoples and knowledge,” she said.
Ross extended the appreciation to community members and Evergreen School Division staff who were involved in the development of the Lifelong Learning Model on behalf of The Aboriginal Education Program Committee.
“Just as leaves provide nourishment to the roots and support the tree’s foundation, a community’s collective well-being renews an individual’s learning cycle. Thank you for providing this foundation as we support and enhance students in their lifelong learning,” she said.