Initiatives for Aboriginal Awareness in Our School System
I started and have directed a Student based Aboriginal Program at Centre Wellington DHS (Fergus Ontario) since 2005. We initiated a student exchange program with Aboriginal communities. In 2006, we exchanged with Tusarvik School in Repulse Bay, NU. In 2008, we were blessed to have had an historic exchange with Natuashish, NL (nee Davis Inlet) and last year we exchanged with the Blackfoot from Napi Friendship Centre in Pincher Creek, Alberta. The program targets "at-risk students' and attempts to find the "closet Aboriginal" students in our school community. There are many Aboriginal students, who wish to go unnoticed. It is my main mission to try to get these students to be proud of their culture and heritage. The next major mission is to bring awareness of Aboriginal issues and culture to the school and local community-at-large. We have been successful by fundraising and allowing at-risk students of low financial situations to go on exchange trips. We pay for them. In addition, to the exchange program, we initiated a Student-based Aboriginal Club. Our current President is a Cree student, whose roots are from Moose Factory. The Club has allowed us to branch off and bring in guest speakers (ie on Residential schools), provide workshops on Hand Drum Making and Bead Pouches as well as Native Jewellery. These are also open to the community-at-large. We have also started a Native Heritage Day (March 2011 - focus was to work with Southern Ontario Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative and fund rasie all monies for Aboriginal Diabetes - same focus for this years Festival), which has now grown into a 2 day Aboriginal Heritage Festival. Last year, students became so actively involved in this that one student, whom I knew and worked with for two years, FINALLY, came out..."of the closet" and said..."I want you to know I am Metis"...Wow! This was hard for her to do, as she had always hidden her heritage. In addition, we are doing an Education Day this year (Friday April 20 - first of 2 day Festival), in which students from all across our Board will be bussed into the Wellington County Museum (asked us to move the Festival from our school to the new location). The Saturday April 21, will be an open community day. There will be presentations, workshops, a guest speaker (Narcise Blood from Alberta). Last year, we had Don Kelly, host of APTN's Fish Out of Water. The Club has also allowed us to paint the Pillars in our cafetreria (a large volume area, by Metis, First Nations and Inuk artists. We have also constructed a permanent display in the front of the school, which is large medecine wheel, with an Inukshuk (north Quadrant), First Nations rock (East quadrant), Metis Infinity Symbol with sash (West Quadrant) and Medcine Wheel in South Quadrant. The students in the Club (both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) organize a Christmas Clothing and non-perishable food drive. In the past three years we have sent (via Fed the Children Canada/Speroway and in cooperation with the North South Partnership) to the communities of Pikangikum, Sandy Lake and Bearskin Lake FN in northwestern Ontario. I have also given keynote talks to the Education class at Lakehead University about our initiatives to get Aboriginal Awareness into the schools. We have also started a Native Studies course. Most recently, I help organize a fundraiser for Attawapiskat and was interviewed by Michael Hutchinson on the APTN National News (Thursday Jan 12). I have also been able to get students sponsored to attend a nuimber of conferences who have been involved in theses initiatives. One of our Cree students represented us at the Circle of Light Conference in Toronto in November.
About You
About You
First Name
Jack
Last Name
Frimeth
Confirm a user name that will be displayed publicly to identify your entry
jfrimeth
About You, Your Group, or Your Organization
Name
Centre Wellington District HS (Upper Grand District SB)
Website
Country
Canada, ON
Please confirm that this project could benefit First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples
Yes
Twitter URL
Facebook URL
Youtube URL
What categories best describe who your group or organization serves (check all that apply)
First Nations, Métis and Inuit people, Other.
What best describes your group or organization
Elementary or Secondary school.
How long have you, your group, or your organization been operating?
More than 5 years
Innovation
Name Your Entry
Initiatives for Aboriginal Awareness in Our School System
Tell us the story of your idea or project
I started and have directed a Student based Aboriginal Program at Centre Wellington DHS (Fergus Ontario) since 2005. We initiated a student exchange program with Aboriginal communities. In 2006, we exchanged with Tusarvik School in Repulse Bay, NU. In 2008, we were blessed to have had an historic exchange with Natuashish, NL (nee Davis Inlet) and last year we exchanged with the Blackfoot from Napi Friendship Centre in Pincher Creek, Alberta. The program targets "at-risk students' and attempts to find the "closet Aboriginal" students in our school community. There are many Aboriginal students, who wish to go unnoticed. It is my main mission to try to get these students to be proud of their culture and heritage. The next major mission is to bring awareness of Aboriginal issues and culture to the school and local community-at-large. We have been successful by fundraising and allowing at-risk students of low financial situations to go on exchange trips. We pay for them. In addition, to the exchange program, we initiated a Student-based Aboriginal Club. Our current President is a Cree student, whose roots are from Moose Factory. The Club has allowed us to branch off and bring in guest speakers (ie on Residential schools), provide workshops on Hand Drum Making and Bead Pouches as well as Native Jewellery. These are also open to the community-at-large. We have also started a Native Heritage Day (March 2011 - focus was to work with Southern Ontario Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative and fund rasie all monies for Aboriginal Diabetes - same focus for this years Festival), which has now grown into a 2 day Aboriginal Heritage Festival. Last year, students became so actively involved in this that one student, whom I knew and worked with for two years, FINALLY, came out..."of the closet" and said..."I want you to know I am Metis"...Wow! This was hard for her to do, as she had always hidden her heritage. In addition, we are doing an Education Day this year (Friday April 20 - first of 2 day Festival), in which students from all across our Board will be bussed into the Wellington County Museum (asked us to move the Festival from our school to the new location). The Saturday April 21, will be an open community day. There will be presentations, workshops, a guest speaker (Narcise Blood from Alberta). Last year, we had Don Kelly, host of APTN's Fish Out of Water. The Club has also allowed us to paint the Pillars in our cafetreria (a large volume area, by Metis, First Nations and Inuk artists. We have also constructed a permanent display in the front of the school, which is large medecine wheel, with an Inukshuk (north Quadrant), First Nations rock (East quadrant), Metis Infinity Symbol with sash (West Quadrant) and Medcine Wheel in South Quadrant. The students in the Club (both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) organize a Christmas Clothing and non-perishable food drive. In the past three years we have sent (via Fed the Children Canada/Speroway and in cooperation with the North South Partnership) to the communities of Pikangikum, Sandy Lake and Bearskin Lake FN in northwestern Ontario. I have also given keynote talks to the Education class at Lakehead University about our initiatives to get Aboriginal Awareness into the schools. We have also started a Native Studies course. Most recently, I help organize a fundraiser for Attawapiskat and was interviewed by Michael Hutchinson on the APTN National News (Thursday Jan 12). I have also been able to get students sponsored to attend a nuimber of conferences who have been involved in theses initiatives. One of our Cree students represented us at the Circle of Light Conference in Toronto in November.
Define your idea / project in 1-2 short sentences
To make new initiatives to promote Aboriginal awareness in a largely non-Aboriginal Ontario region, while facilitating Aboriginals to embrace their culture.
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Growth (the project is up and running and is starting to move forward)
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
Please tell us about the social impact of your idea or proect
Your Future Goal(s): Tell us what you hope to achieve with your idea or project in the next year
To design and begin construction of a Traditional Outdoor Education Centre in Attawapiskat FN, Ontario.
In 5 years, what will be different as a result of your idea/project?
In five years the construction will be completed and Traditional Outdoor Education will have begun. It is hoped that this centre will also serve neighbouring communities on the James Bay coast such as Fort Albany and Kasechewan.
Sustainability
Tell us about the people/ partnerships that are already involved and why they are important to your idea or project.
Local clubs such as the Centre Wellington Community Resource Group, CW Interact and the Rotary Club have all worked together in this initial project. Our Aboriginal Program has been recently working with the administrations of both the JR Nagokee Elementary School and Vezina Secondary School in Attawapiskat. We have just held a Fundraiser in which $900 was raised toward a newly initiated "Elders in the Classroom" Program. This was very important in taking the first steps towards a new partnership. There has been opportunity to further discuss the prospect of a Traditional Outdoor Education Centre as a continuation of these initiatives.
If there are other people/partners that you will reach out to tell us who they are and why they will be important to your idea or project.
Other partners that will be instrumental in the completion of this project will be local construction companies, that have expressed interest. Other Outdoor Education projects in other North American communities, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. Other Aboriginal centres in places such as Hawaii and New Zealand and Australia will be important. The unique climate of the James Bay coast will create special problems.
Describe the kinds of support you receive (other than money) or will need to support your idea or project (e.g.: donated, space, equipment and volunteers)
The project will require construction equipment and expertise. Outdoor education equipment and volunteers to do the construction and local Aboriginal groups and Elders to design the actual working environment as well ass the curriculum and outdoor ed programs. Volunteers to do the construction and move all euipment into Attawapiskat and the building itself.
Do you currently have funding for your idea or project?
No (skip next two questions)
 | 18 weeks agoAlfred Gamble said: I like the Idea. There are alot of challenges facing FN Youth. The exchange program helps to develop confindence and leadership. Looks ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 18 weeks agoJack Frimeth updated this Competition Entry. |
| 18 weeks agoJack Frimeth updated this Competition Entry. |
| 18 weeks agoJack Frimeth updated this Competition Entry. |
| 18 weeks agoJack Frimeth submitted this idea. |
