Indigenous Education

Indigenous Education in SD 19 seeks to enhance supports for Indigenous students, and increase the presence of Indigenous cultures, languages, and histories for all members of our learning community.

We would like to respectfully honour the four nations on whose land we live and learn: The Sinixt, the Secwepemc, the Ktunxa, and the Syilx Okanagan. School District 19 is located along the banks of the Snxwntkwitkw (Columbia River).

What does the Indigenous Education department do?

The SD 19 Indigenous Education Department supports Indigenous students culturally, socially, and academically. These one-to-one supports are individually tailored to each student’s unique set of strengths and areas for growth. Throughout the district, the department offers monthly Indigenous-focused activities and field trips for students in grades K-12 that emphasize Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being, fostering a spirit of reconciliation. This year, we have had bi-weekly visits from an Elder-In-Residence from the Splatsín band, one of nine Secwepemc communities of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council.

Who does the Indigenous Education Department Support?

The Indigenous Education Department provides support and services to self-identified Indigenous students and the wider learning community within SD 19. Indigenous ancestry includes First Nations (status or non-status), Inuit, or Métis ancestry and can go back several generations.

Indigenous Education Supports and Services:

A wide range of services are tailored to meet the dynamic and unique requirements of each individual or classroom.

One-on-one and/or group academic, social-emotional, and cultural support
Elementary to Secondary, Secondary to Post-Secondary transitions
Indigenous graduation support
Lunch and recess activities
Decolonization of learning environments
Monthly field trips or events offered for all district classrooms
Visits from Elders and Knowledge Holders

Self-identifying as Indigenous

Why do I need to self-identify?

As required by the Ministry of Education, parent/guardian permission and/or confirmation will be required at the start of each year to provide our programs and services to your child. The Indigenous Education Department plans their supports and activities based on the number of self-identified Indigenous students in the district.

How do I self-identify as Indigenous?

There is no documentation required to self-identify as Indigenous. When enrolling, inform the principal or secretary, and a member of the Indigenous Education Department will then contact a parent or guardian to gain their consent for the student to receive supports and services provided by the Indigenous Education Department.

Each year, we request Indigenous families to self-identify their Indigeneity to the district to ensure that we provide the best possible support to all students. This is a self-identification process, and it does not require status cards or any other forms of official documents. The Indigenous Education Department plans its supports and activities based on the number of self-identified Indigenous students in the district. This data is collected through the self-identification forms distributed each September. When this form is sent home with your child, please return the completed form or get in touch with your school so that we can plan accordingly.