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Indigenous Learning & Culture

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We will achieve equity of outcomes for Indigenous learners in Cariboo-Chilcotin School District. We will continue to examine our environments, structures, and practices to identify and address barriers. We are committed to continuing to strengthen relationships with First Nation communities as rightsholders and collaborate with community partners who support Indigenous children and youth and their families. We will embed learning about Indigenous culture, perspectives, and language in the daily experience of learners in our schools. Some examples of the work of our plan are:

  • District-wide staff learning about Truth and Reconciliation, local Indigenous culture, Circle of Courage and trauma-informed practice
  • Planned school-wide culture learning aligned with calendar of local cultural seasonal activities
  • Visible language and culture across schools (Knowledge keepers in schools, ceremony, welcome signage, elders posters)
  • Review of school libraries and resource collections and additional funding for Authentic First Peoples Resources
  • Recognizing cultural learning in community with graduation program credits (local Independent Directed Study framework)
  • Meaningful engagement of schools and district in Local Education Agreements (LEA)
  • Re-engagement with Equity in Action 

Explore the ways we are LEARNING BETTER TOGETHER for equity for Indigenous students and learning about local Indigenous culture for all students and staff:

Cariboo-Chilcotin Team at FNESC

100 Mile Elementary

150 Mile Elementary

Alexis Creek Elementary/Secondary

Anahim Lake Elementary/Secondary

Big Lake Elementary

Cataline Elementary

Chilcotin Road Elementary

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Forest Grove Elementary

Graduation Routes Other Ways

Horse Lake Elementary

Horsefly Elementary/Junior

Lac La Hache Elementary

Lake City Secondary

Likely Elementary

Marie Sharpe Elementary

Mile 108 Elementary

Mountview Elementary

Naghtaneqed Elementary/Junior

Nesika Elementary

Outback Storefront

Peter Skene Ogden Secondary

Skyline Alternate

Tatla Lake Elementary/Junior

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Language teachers and district staff represented Cariboo-Chilcotin School District at the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) conference in Vancouver. The team learned from powerful presentations, connected with one another and colleagues from across the province, and celebrated both what is already happening in our schools and what is possible.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/e5ae6922-6340-46c3-979f-4cd42523a929" alt="Cariboo Chilcotin Team at FNESC cheryl lenardon" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
Cariboo Chilcotin Team at FNESC cheryl lenardon

Lahal with Bruce

Columneetza Junior Secondary

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you Bruce Baptiste for recently visiting and teaching and playing Lahal with our students. We already look forward to next time!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/94378737-9e41-4ae4-8c26-dbd15e6becdd" alt="Lahal with Bruce holly zurak" width="539" height="399" style="width:539px;height:399px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
Lahal with Bruce holly zurak

Model Behaviour - Tea with Role Models

Columneetza Junior Secondary

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Recently our SD27 First Nations Role Models Michaellaine and Terrance visited Columneetza to enjoy tea with our students. They shared about the program and connected with our school community. Thank you!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/35fe7a42-c385-48aa-9ad4-f61e77e5c0f8" alt="Model Behaviour Tea with Role Models holly zurak" width="517" height="386" style="width:517px;height:386px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>
Model Behaviour Tea with Role Models holly zurak

Joel West visits Columneetza

Columneetza Junior Secondary

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">During Truth and Reconciliation week, Columneetza students and staff gathered for a whole school presentation from singer and storyteller Joel West. Joel traveled from Burns Lake and touched many hearts in the crowd, sharing his story and personal upbringing. We all had chills as Joel sang covers of popular and inspirational songs, moving the crowd of over 700 people to sing along. What a great presentation!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/411fb85e-3403-49f3-8b1d-67f7f6e4051a" alt="IMG 9809 holly zurak" width="388" height="388" style="width:388px;height:388px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
IMG 9807 holly zurak

Learning Opportunities during Truth and Reconciliation Week

Columneetza Junior Secondary

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you to the indigenous culture team led by Ms. Billyboy and supported by fellow staff for providing learning opportunities throughout the week such as an invitation to smudge, making tea, medicine bags, orange shirt pins, and more. It was heartwarming to see students try something new!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/f18247e0-2c54-4943-99e8-4fccc4359859" alt="IMG 9805 holly zurak" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
IMG 9806 holly zurak

Indigenous Day of Learning

Columneetza Junior Secondary

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Columneetza and LCS were hosted by WLFN to spend the first day of learning together. We shared lunch, chose our learning (melamen, lahal and drumming, powwow, treaty and self-governance, sweat, bannock, rattle making, and touring St.Joseph's Mission) and ended with brushing off.&nbsp;</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">WLFN was an amazing team to work with and we hope many relationships were kindled between our staff and community.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/aa9fcbcf-10f9-4ef5-af4f-ca5c2405486b" alt="IMG 9403 holly zurak" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
IMG 3577 Nara Riplinger

Starting In a Good Way

Columneetza Junior Secondary

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Staff members Kaylee, Rick and Shannon welcomed students back to school after summer break with a drumming in and invitation to smudge.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/35c49623-9a04-4d42-8395-c0c6600b22f3" alt="IMG 9106 holly zurak" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
IMG 9106 holly zurak

District Lahal tournament

100 Mile Elementary

150 Mile Elementary

Alexis Creek Elementary/Secondary

Anahim Lake Elementary/Secondary

Big Lake Elementary

Cataline Elementary

Chilcotin Road Elementary

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Forest Grove Elementary

Graduation Routes Other Ways

Horse Lake Elementary

Horsefly Elementary/Junior

Lac La Hache Elementary

Lake City Secondary

Likely Elementary

Marie Sharpe Elementary

Mile 108 Elementary

Mountview Elementary

Naghtaneqed Elementary/Junior

Nesika Elementary

Peter Skene Ogden Secondary

Outback Storefront

Skyline Alternate

Tatla Lake Elementary/Junior

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Marie Sharpe hosted the 2nd annual lahal tournament. Teams travelled from around the district to take part. Special thank you to all the knowledge keepers that came out to support the event. A great day was experienced by all!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/c843f8b1-ef6b-4b57-a033-1b4fb4e5d0e2" alt="7 Grant Gustafson" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
6 Grant Gustafson

Powwow 2025 at Columneetza

Columneetza Junior Secondary

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students from 100 Mile Elementary attended the powwow in Williams Lake hosted by Columneetza Junior Secondary. Students experienced firsthand a rich cultural experience of drumming and dancing. This was a gathering for all people in Williams Lake and communities to be a part of a demonstration of Indigenous people's way of being. Thank you so much for inviting our school to this special day.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/ace12845-9488-4d06-9403-e6436275e909" alt="Powwow 2025 at Columneetza" width="510" height="549" style="width:510px;height:549px"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
Powwow 2025 at Columneetza

Independent Directed Study Framework

100 Mile Elementary

150 Mile Elementary

Alexis Creek Elementary/Secondary

Anahim Lake Elementary/Secondary

Big Lake Elementary

Cataline Elementary

Chilcotin Road Elementary

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Forest Grove Elementary

Graduation Routes Other Ways

Horse Lake Elementary

Horsefly Elementary/Junior

Lac La Hache Elementary

Lake City Secondary

Likely Elementary

Marie Sharpe Elementary

Mile 108 Elementary

Mountview Elementary

Naghtaneqed Elementary/Junior

Nesika Elementary

Peter Skene Ogden Secondary

Outback Storefront

Skyline Alternate

Tatla Lake Elementary/Junior

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Honouring learning done with family and in community was the inspiration for Cariboo-Chilcotin School District developing a framework to support learners engage in independent directed studies (IDS). IDS allows students to take ownership of planning and engaging in learning about a particular topic or aspect of a curricular area. They decide how they will share what they learned and are granted credits in the graduation program. It is inspiring to see where students can take their studies!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">To learn more, click </span><a href="/page/3983/independent-directed-study-ids" target="_blank" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">here.</span></a></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/911eae3b-96e5-45ce-918b-31217cee21a3" alt="Independent Directed Study Framework" width="475" height="630" style="width:475px;height:630px"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
9mlgxnaf.jpg

Truth and Reconciliation Week at Columneetza

Columneetza Junior Secondary

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">At Columneetza, we organized a series of events to demonstrate our support for and commitment to reconciliation with First Nations communities. Both students and staff actively participated in these events.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/a8594065-bfb9-57be-909e-5b2d7217d96c" alt="Slide1.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>
Slide1.jpg

District Leadership Learning About

100 Mile Elementary

150 Mile Elementary

Alexis Creek Elementary/Secondary

Anahim Lake Elementary/Secondary

Big Lake Elementary

Cataline Elementary

Chilcotin Road Elementary

Columneetza Junior Secondary

Forest Grove Elementary

Graduation Routes Other Ways

Horse Lake Elementary

Horsefly Elementary/Junior

Lac La Hache Elementary

Lake City Secondary

Likely Elementary

Marie Sharpe Elementary

Mile 108 Elementary

Mountview Elementary

Naghtaneqed Elementary/Junior

Nesika Elementary

Peter Skene Ogden Secondary

Outback Storefront

Skyline Alternate

Tatla Lake Elementary/Junior

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The district leadership team of PVP, managers, and senior staff was honoured to have our own Dancing Water Sandy lead learning for us about First Nations traditional knowledge and use of plants. We mixed teas and made smudge candles and salve.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/238405a4-426a-5d51-9e35-f4ee97d4a65d" alt="7y0ldt9e.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>
District Leadership Learning About