A program at a Saskatoon school has been awarded for bringing Indigenous knowledge and teaching to students.
Confederation Park Community School’s Nêhiyâwiwin Cree Language program was recognized at the Indspire Awards National Gathering for Indigenous Education in Toronto Saturday.
The program began in 2005 and is currently offered to students from pre-kindergarten to Grade 5. According to a news release from the Saskatoon Tribal Council, there are plans to expand the program to Grades 6 and 7.
The Indspire awards recognizes programs where Indigenous knowledge is valued and given the same attention as mainstream teachings.
The release states that students in the Saskatoon program leave fluent in Cree with reading, writing and math skills in English at grade level.
“Overall kids experience improved learning outcomes because of the confidence they receive from the cultural identity entrenched in the program,” Pete Chief, vice-principal of the school, said in the release.
Enrolment for the program has been full since it began.
The program is provided through a partnership between the Saskatoon Tribal Council, Central Urban Métis Federation Incorporated and Saskatoon Public Schools.