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ARTICLE

Local Program Creates Cultural Connections

Krista Swanson

Last October the Grand Erie Elementary Teacher Local executive decided to restructure the organization. We met with staff from provincial office to discuss better ways of  including members in the local. After several brainstorming sessions, we were asked to create a plan for implementing one of the ideas we had come up with. For  some  time  Grand  Erie  president Susan Swackhammer had  wanted  to  create  a  bridge between teachers  with the Grand Erie District School Board and those in Six Nations and New Credit reserve schools. At the first local representative council meeting our stewards agreed to a proposal to form an Aboriginal Initiative Committee.

The committee was unique in that its members included a principal from the New Credit Reserve, a trustee  from the Grand Erie District School  Board,  a  representative  of  the  professional development committee from Six Nations Reserve, an  ETFO representative and  teachers from Grand Erie.

We decided that there was a lot to be gained by creating partnerships. The teachers from Six Nations  and  New  Credit  wanted  professional development ideas and those from Grand Erie were hoping to  gain some  knowledge  to  help them teach the Native Canadian Aboriginal content of the new curriculum.

On May 5, we hosted a professional development day at a Six Nations Reserve school. The day began with a  greeting from an elder from the Reserve and then each participant attended two sessions.

During  the  morning  break  the  participants had an opportunity to meet with publishers who offered a wide variety of resources. Two groups of children drumming songs during the lunch break provided a cultural experience. Participants were able  to  select from  workshops that dealt with Aboriginal culture as well as with literacy, numeracy, and assessment.

Workshops  were  designed  so  that  teachers from different grades and schools were able to meet and  exchange  ideas. During the collective gatherings,  we  encouraged  participants  to  sit with members from  different  schools to brain- storm  and  come  up  with  new  ideas for  their classrooms.

The evaluation forms we received showed the event was a success.

“Met some great friends; connected with great resource people.” “Well planned and organized. It was a pleasurable learning experience.”

“Learned  very  valuable  information  about First Nation culture. It will certainly assist me in planning units using correct terminology.”

After the event, several new members joined the committee, a testament to its success! The committee hopes to make this an annual event. We also plan on providing more opportunities throughout the school year for creating new  friendships and  invaluable  teaching  connections. The committee would like to thank ETFO for their  assistance with  this  exciting professional development opportunity!