Snowdrift (Nov 08/04) - A unique co-operative education initiative was officially launched in Lutsel K'e Nov. 2.

The South Slave Divisional Education Council, the Lutsel K'e District Education Authority, Aurora College and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment are jointly funding a high school teacher/adult educator and sharing educational facilities and resources. Andrew Howes has been hired as the first teacher/adult educator.

Howes delivers courses part-time at Lutsel K'e Dene school and co-ordinates adult education at Aurora College's Lutsel K'e Community Learning Centre (CLC).

"I'm quite excited about it," said Angie Lantz, chair of the Lutsel K'e District Education Authority. She said it is now up to the community to take the idea and run with it.

Curtis Brown, superintendent of the South Slave Divisional Education Council, said pooling resources allows more programs to be made available in Lutsel K'e.

"I hope this might be a model for other small communities in the NWT," he said.

Aurora College has also been able to hire a tutor for the Community Learning Centre and bring in instructors for short courses.

"More young people seem to be aware and interested in returning to school and the CLC now that we can offer a wider and more interesting array of courses," Howes said.

Leslie Abel, 19, attends both Lutsel K'e Dene school and the Community Learning Centre. She believes more people in the community are now thinking of education, especially at the learning centre.

"It's much better now that they're finally noticing the place," she said.