A K-9 Indigenous charter school in Alberta is permanently closing after experiencing low enrolment. Mother Earth’s Children’s Charter School was established by parents and educators who wanted their children taught using Indigenous approaches. The school opened in 2003 in Wabamun and served mostly students from Paul First Nation. Superintendent Ed Wittchen said that the school’s enrolment fell to just 20 students this year so the board requested permission to close the school and give up its charter in January. “It was a sad time for people to have to make that decision, but we were all in agreement that it was time and necessary,” said Wittchen. The school’s location was a drawback because few students lived nearby and as time passed, families moved away or decided to send their children to the reserve’s new K-9 school. The school is working on its last annual education results report and a final audit.
