Historic agreement supports Aboriginal success
Board & Committees
Vancouver, B.C. – (June 25, 2009) – An historic agreement signed by the Vancouver Board of Education, B.C. Ministry of Education and local aboriginal communities will ensure Aboriginal culture is integrated in public schools, and that Aboriginal communities are involved in the design of programs, services and curriculum delivery aimed at improving Aboriginal student achievement.
By signing the Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement (AEEA), the Musqueam Nation, local aboriginal communities, the Vancouver school district and the Ministry of Education all agree to share responsibility for improving student success and to provide Aboriginal students in Vancouver with more Aboriginal culture and history in the classroom. The agreement was signed on June 25 at an official ceremony at the First Nations House of Learning at the University of British Columbia.
“This agreement is a road map, to which the Vancouver board is fully committed for the benefit of our Aboriginal learners,” said Vancouver Board of Education chair Patti Bacchus. “The board looks forward to collaborating with Aboriginal communities to provide Aboriginal students with the tools they need to succeed. When we work side by side, respecting history and culture, the possibilities are endless for Aboriginal students.”
“On behalf of the Musqueam Indian Band, I am pleased at the signing of the Aboriginal education enhancement agreement. This agreement is important to us because it will hold all the parties involved accountable for providing support and ensuring the success of First Nations students,” said Musqueam Indian Band Chief Ernest Campbell. “The agreement will benefit Musqueam students and their culture and heritage by bringing First Nation culture and history into the schools and providing an educational tool to assist non-Aboriginal students, parents and teachers to have a greater awareness of who we are and of our culture and heritage.”
Local Aboriginal groups, the school district and the Ministry of Education worked closely during the past five years to develop goals to help improve Aboriginal student achievement, which include:
- Ensuring that Aboriginal students achieve increased academic success in Vancouver schools and that they participate fully and successfully from kindergarten through the completion of Grade 12.
- Increasing Aboriginal students’ sense of pride, self-esteem, belonging, place, acceptance, and caring in their schools.
- Increasing knowledge and appreciation of Aboriginal histories, traditions, cultures and contributions by all students through eliminating institutional, cultural and individual racism within the Vancouver school district learning communities.
There are 2,159 students who were identified as being of Aboriginal ancestry in the Vancouver school district this year, representing 3.6 per cent of the district’s total enrolment.
Photo caption: Dignitaries enter the University of British Columbia’s First Nations House of Learning for the signing of the Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement for the Vancouver School Board.
From left: Minister of Education, Hon. Margaret MacDiarmid; Chairperson of the Vancouver School Board, Patti Bacchus; Métis Nation British Columbia, Minister Responsible for Education, Dave Hodgson; and Vancouver Technical Secondary School student Ashton Garay.
