Fort St. John, BC – A pair of First Nations elders consider Northern Lights School’s initiative to combine Indigenous data into its curriculum is one other optimistic step for First Nation communities.
The NLC Elders in Residence program formally launched in October 2022. This system is alleged to be a manner for “elders to share their data with college students, workers and school by way of discussions, storytelling and classroom excursions”.
A few of the elders concerned in this system are Gerry Atacci, David Rattray, Clarence Apsasin, Malcolm Supernault, Bernadette Cardinal and Vera Nicholson.
Apsasin, a former chief of the Treaty 8 tribe and a member of the Blueberry River First Nation, feels “this system provides them a chance to indicate their true selves.”
Apsasin is a residential faculty survivor who shared his story with NLC college students final week. He He stated delving into his “horror story” was probably the most difficult expertise of his life.
However for Apsassin, forgiving colonists and their wrongs is essential to the First Nations group.
“By means of forgiveness we might be free,” Apsasin stated. “To us, forgiving colonists reveals power as a group.”
In her article Integration of indigenous dataAlesha Hendry, with the faculty, described the function of Helen Knott, NLC’s Director of Indigenous Training, and her expertise at Nicola Valley Institute (NVIT) at Benefit, notably in coping with elders. Knott stated the expertise lifted her spirits as she felt homesick.
In keeping with Hendry, Knott’s ardour and dedication to creating areas for Indigenous training was instrumental in beginning the Elder Program at NLC.
In keeping with Nott, academic establishments play a job within the integration of historical past, they usually should do the present work of indigenous data and historical past – this program is a small step in the correct route.
Training is essential, and decoding historical past for future generations is the purpose of elders, Apsasin stated.
Former Chief and Councilor Gerry Attachie of the Doig River First Nation believes that creating the tales of the Dane-Za previous is important to their group.
Attachie’s expertise at NLC is kind of an journey as a result of he learns completely different cultural data from worldwide college students.
For Apsasin, language is one’s identification, and he inspired college students to talk and protect their mom tongue.
“Language guides us by way of tough instances in life.
An area elder joins the faculty every month for occasions between the Fort St. John and Dawson’s Creek campuses. These occasions embody classroom talks, academic webinars, dialogue teams, and tea and bannock socials.
Nott hopes to proceed this program to honor Indigenous data and create an area for elders within the postsecondary setting to attach with NLC college students and workers.
Featured photograph: From proper to left, NLC native pupil navigators Dennis Stager and Clarence Apsasin.
