SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Bobby Drygeese, owner and operator of B Dene Adventures, made a presentation at the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 board meeting May 11 about offering traditional Dene camps for students.

"Traditional knowledge of the elders and people who work in the camps would benefit the education system for the future," said Drygeese.

"There are little things you cannot get in the classroom; you have to be out on the land."

Students would travel outside Dettah to participate in activities such as berry picking, trapping, taming caribou hides, spirituality camps and other activities.

"This is an important part of what our strategic goal is in terms of aboriginal education," said Duff Spence, board chairperson.

French program presented to Sissons

Dr. Claude Germain, an expert on intensive French programs from the University of Quebec at Montreal, made a presentation at J.H. Sissons School on May 10.

"He highlighted the success of the intensive French program to develop spontaneous oral communication skills as well as the success of intensive French to boost results in other academic subjects," said John Stephenson, board trustee. "I was quite impressed with the data."

Intensive French is a program that enables students to receive three to four times the number of hours of instruction normally devoted to the language in non-French immersion schools.

The program has been in Canada for 12 years and has been in place for four years at Range Lake North School for Grade 6 students.

"I think it's quite important that we promote this exciting second language education opportunity," said Stephenson.

School hosts multicultural event

John Stephenson, a Yk. 1 board member, encouraged the board of trustees to attend a multicultural feast at J.H Sissons School on May 28.

Participants will be bringing different ethnic dishes and students will also be dressing up in a variety of traditional clothing.

"It's like the biggest picnic in town," said Stephenson.

"Actually a few years ago it was (Tram Do, director of corporate services) effort with spring rolls that she wanted to contribute to the school that springboarded into a whole multicultural celebration in the school that has now become an annual event."