Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Friday, December 28, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknife Education District No. 1 recently won an award in Alberta for its Aboriginal Language and Culture (ALC) program.

Yk 1 is a member of the Alberta School Board Association, which recognized Yk1 in November as an award finalist for the 2007 Premier's Award for School Board Innovation and Excellence, in recognition of its efforts in aboriginal language and culture programming.

Shannon Payne, aboriginal education co-ordinator with Yk1, said the ALC program provides an environment to support the unique cultures of the North.

"It really builds an awareness in the children," said Payne.

About 25 per cent of children enrolled in the district are aboriginal.

"We incorporate the use of elders who come in and teach the kids," said Payne.

She said some of the in-class workshops include how to carve, skinning and how to make dry meat. There is an incorporation of the Dene curriculum into the regular school system and a pull-out program for students learning Dogrib in the aboriginal language enrichment program.

Part of the programming is also cultural camps, co-ordinated at the district level. The aboriginal culture experience program, part of the ALC programming in the schools, gives kids a chance to experience aboriginal culture outside the classroom.

Some camp experiences include a Grade 9 excursion to Bliss Lake to practice trapping and a trip to Wool Bay for the Grade 6 classes for fishing.

"We try to have as many authentic, on-the-land experiences as possible," said Payne.

She said the goal for next year is to have a camp experience for every grade level.

She said the idea to incorporate this programming in the schools began with parents.

"In 1999 a group of parents got together and started talking about aboriginal programs," said Payne.

"They brought it to the attention of Yk1."

In 2002, an Aboriginal Parent Advisory Committee was put in place. There are monthly meetings with parents of aboriginal students and community members to give Yk1 guidance on how to meet the educational needs of the aboriginal students and consult on the aboriginal language and cultural school programs.