‘Wonderful’ program helps prep Indigenous students for Grade 9

The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board’s Summer Indigenous Transitions Program continues to receive good participation and feedback from students, parents and staff.

Free and open to all self-identified First Nation, Métis and Inuit students within the H-SCDSB, the program was created to help Indigenous elementary school students get ready for high school through activities consisting of Indigenous cultural teachings, traditions and practices.  

Now in its third year, the program was held for the first time last summer for students in H-SCDSB communities beyond Sault Ste. Marie, including Elliot Lake/Serpent River First Nation, Blind River/Mississauga First Nation,  Wawa, White River, Chapleau and Hornepayne.

The program was billed as Living That Mino Bimaadiziwin Summer 2024 - Mino Bimaadiziwin meaning "the good path."

Programming for Elliot Lake/Serpent River First Nation Gr. 7 and 8 students took place July 22-26 at Serpent River First Nation while the program was held for Blind River/Mississauga First Nation Gr. 6, 7 and 8 students July 29 to August 2 at Mississauga First Nation.

“They were full weeks. They were wonderful weeks,” said Racheal Glover, Blind River/Elliot Lake Indigenous Transitions Program coach, in a presentation to the H-SCDSB at its regular monthly meeting held Wednesday.    

“We did drum making, cooking by the fire, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, team building, leadership development and learned The Seven Grandfather Teachings (love, respect, bravery, truth, honesty, humility and wisdom). We’re always learning, always building,” Glover said.

The Summer Indigenous Transitions Program includes two cultural resource workers, one Indigenous graduation coach, four Indigenous transition coaches and one program administrator.

“We had six students from Elliot Lake and 14 from Blind River. In Elliot Lake we went for a tour of the high school they will be attending after they leave elementary school. We had a full day focusing on powwow teachings. It was really great to work with them,” Glover said.

Glover was joined by Nadia Zanatta, H-SCDSB Summer Indigenous Transitions Program administrator and Our Lady of Lourdes vice-principal, at Wednesday’s presentation to the board.  

“Speaking of my own personal experience, I attended my first sunrise ceremony with Racheal at the powwow grounds at Mississauga First Nation and that experience was life changing and quite emotional. I was able to connect with some of my former students from St. Mary’s in Blind River and I’m very grateful that this position has provided me with a deeper understanding of this learning,” Zanatta said.

Feedback from students and parents and guardians about the program was positive, Zanatta said.

“The most common response was that the students wished the program was much longer than one week.”

“It was great to see students thrive in a different environment. I had two students ask me if they could help plan next year's program and we’re looking to give our students an opportunity to grow in leadership, and they’re ready,” Glover said.

“It was also good to see students thrive in land based learning and outdoor education. One of my students really struggles in a classroom setting but she had success in drum making at the powwow grounds. Her guardian said ‘I can’t believe the confidence my child has, I didn’t see it before.’ So, it’s creating opportunities where there are successes because that's where confidence starts to build and that’s what our students need. For me that was the highlight of these two weeks,” Glover said.

The Summer Indigenous Transitions Program aligns with numbers 10 and 63 of the 94 Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action regarding Indigenous education, Zanatta told the board, stating the program builds Indigenous identity and honours Treaty relationships.  

The program was offered to H-SCDSB Gr. 5-8 students from Wawa, White River, Chapleau, and Hornepayne in Wawa August 13 and to Gr. 7 and 8 students in Sault Ste. Marie Aug. 19-23 at St. Mary’s College.

Sault activities this year included 23 students from five elementary schools and included a cruise on the Miss Marie, drum making, land teachings, a high school readiness session at Holy Cross School and a glimpse at St. Mary’s College.

“It is our responsibility and our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation to ensure that learning is inclusive and available to all. It’s a lot of time listening and asking our Indigenous communities where the need is and how we can serve. Families are excited, they’re happy to see these types of things in place for their students,” Zanatta said.

Zanatta told the board that it is hoped the Summer Indigenous Transitions Program will be expanded to more communities such as Massey and Espanola, then right across the Huron-Superior district.