SRSD, Indigenous partners gather to discuss attendance, land-based learning

The Saskatchewan Rivers School Division Board of Education held their first Indigenous Partners Gathering earlier this year. Representatives from Montreal Lake First Nation, Ahtahkakoop First Nation, Little Red River First Nation, and Western Region 2 of the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan were among the partners in attendance. The partners discussed topics such as land-based learning, opportunities to support Indigenous languages, and ways that attendance could be improved. The school board also recently allocated two full-time staff positions who will help reconnect students with their schools. “We had really good conversations around some of the successes that we are having, either on First Nations schools or in provincial schools, and shared some common interests in improvements, enhancements, and things going forward,” said SRSD Education Director Robert Bratvold. Bratvold noted that the school division is looking forward to expanding the partnership in the future and holding more meetings. MBC Radio reports that the school board also recently changed its Land Acknowledgement process to move beyond a formal script and encourage trustees to include a personal commitment to Truth and Reconciliation in their acknowledgement.