Education PartnershipsKainai Board of Education

Richard Fox, SuperintendentMorris Manyfingers, Deputy SuperintendentEvelyn Good Striker, Project Coordinator

Partnerships

• Kainai First Nation is located in the southwest corner of Alberta, along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains

• Its land base is 642 sq miles, the largest reserve in Canada• Population is approx 10,000

Partnerships• Kainai student population is approx 1,635• KBE student population is 1,016• Tuition student population is 619• KBE operates 7 schools

PartnershipsHistorical Context of Education of Kainaiwa

- Pre contact Kainaiwa had a traditional form of education of holistic nature- Land base (Rocky Mountains to the West, North Saskatchewan River to the North, the Sliding Hills and Cyprus Hills to the East, and the Yellowstone River to the South)- Treaty #7 of 1877, whereby the Tribes of Treaty 7 area agreed to share its traditional territory with newcomers.

PartnershipsPart of the promises made by the Queen’s representatives included the commitment that they would provide for the educational and health needs of the members of the Treaty 7 Tribes

Indian Act (1876) designed as an administrative tool in working with First Nations

PartnershipsFormal Education Introduced:

- Industrial Schools: St. Joseph’s Industrial School (Dunbow School) near High River (1884-1924)

- Mission Schools: First Anglican School established in 1880 at the Belly Buttes, the first Catholic mission school established St. Mary’s (Immaculate Conception) Mission Boarding School in 1911

Partnerships- Residential Schools: St Paul’s Indian Residential School established in 1924, closed in 1975St Mary’s Roman Catholic Residential School established in 1925 was one of the last schools closed in 1987- Provincial Curricula was introduced- Federal Policy 1938, no Indian could receive better than gr 8 (leave at 16)

- Day Schools: Levern Day School, Stand Off Day School (1954)St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s accepted students who didn’t live in residence

Partnerships- Assimilation/Integration Policy: Students were permitted to attend public schools. Room and board accommodations were paid by INAC (1960)- Indian Control of Indian Education 1972- Band Operated Schools: 1988 Kainai signed a tripartite agreement with the INAC and the province to take administrative control of education of the schools on the reserve- In 2008, KBE celebrated 20 Years of Band Control of Education

PartnershipsINAC Funding: Financial Transfer Agreement (FTA)

- 5 Year Funding agreement with the Band- Education receives funding from this agreement- KBE negotiates for funding directly with INAC for projects such

as this Education Partnership Initiative- Special Education funding from INAC has always been problematic- Tuition agreements are outdated

PartnershipsKBE Board Members

Johnny Dayrider Sr. (Chairman)

Arnold Fox Jim Gladstone

Delphine Goodstriker

Joyce GoodstrikerMelodie Little BearKirby ManyfingersOliver Shouting

PartnershipsAahsoapi Elementary School

PartnershipsKainai High School

PartnershipsTatsikiisaapo’p Middle School

PartnershipsSaipoyi Community School

Partnerships• Kainai Alternate Academy • Blood Tribe Youth Ranch• Adolescent Treatment Centre

Partnerships- Funding for this project came from INAC:Reforming First Nations Education InitiativeEducation Partnerships Program 2008-2010

- Our project began with KBE sanction October, 2009- Initial meetings with the four school jurisdictions KBE

does business with agreed to explore this partnership

PartnershipsGoal of the Initiative: to explore interest in the value of a tripartite partnership, and to build relationships with KBE, the Blood Tribe, and all it’s partners/stakeholders, with the overall objective of advancing First Nations student achievement in First Nation schools and in provincial schools.

PartnershipsKBE has tuition agreements with:• Westwind School Division• Livingstone Range School Division # 68• Lethbridge School District # 51• Holy Spirit RCSRD # 4

Students are bussed off the reserve by the Blood Reserve Bus Coop (1971)

PartnershipsAddress topics such as:– Tuition agreements– Sharing of learning and teaching resources– Transitions of students from First Nation schools to

provincial schools– Exploring job interchanges between jurisdictions– Enhancing relationships between communities– Parental engagement

PartnershipsProfessional Stakeholders:

– College of Alberta Superintendents (CASS)– Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA)– Alberta Education: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Services Branch– Association of School Business Officials (ASBOA)– Southern Alberta Professional Development Consortium (SAPDC)– Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)

PartnershipsOutcome:• Host a one-day symposium to share effective practices on

enhancing partnerships with: Westwind School Division, Livingstone Range School Division #68, Lethbridge School District # 51 and Holy Spirit RCSRD No.4.

• To be held at the Lethbridge Lodge, March 31, 2010• Symposium details can be found on the KBE website

Partnerships• Consultation with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Services

Branch, Donna Crowshoe, Education Manager

• Education Business Plan 2009-12, Goal Three: Support school authorities in the development of collaborative frameworks with their local First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, which will include continuing to implement community and parental engagement strategies focused on improving First Nations, Métis and Inuit student success.

PartnershipsExisting Relationships:

- Tuition Agreements- Westwind School District has an appointed Trustee- Bussing Agreements- Superintendent attends CASSIX meetings- Sports Participation- Parent Committees- SAPDC (teacher in-service and training) - Liaison workers

Partnerships• KBE met with the Superintendent of each of the four

jurisdictions who agreed to pursue the enhancement of their partnership

• Agreement was made to collaborate on topical issues such as enrolment, transfers, Special Education students, sharing of teacher resource materials, learning Kainai history, etc.

• Enhance parental engagement

• Improve student success

Partnerships• Enhance communication• Enhance relationships• Held 2 rounds of meetings with each Board• Engage in open, honest, discussions such as tuition agreements and data collection

concerns• Honoring Blackfoot Protocol• Gift giving

Partnerships• Teacher exchange• Problem solving• Provide advice and expertise• Boards and Officials visited our Board Office and toured our

schools• Hosted 42 Holy Family RCSRD principals, administration

personnel and liaison workers on school tours

Partnerships• Sharing Teaching Resources, Building a Blackfoot Resource List• Sharing Effective Practices, i.e. parental engagement, sharing circle• Co-planning one-day symposium March 31, 2010 at the Lethbridge

Lodge• Invitation from Holy Spirit to attend Parental Student Townhall

Meeting

Partnerships• Provided Kainai history presentations to all Boards• Involved Alberta Education, FNMI Services Branch Manager

Donna Crowshoe• Informed CASS President Kath Rhyason of our Project• Informed ASBA - Sig Schmold - of our Project• Engaged SAPDC - Director Gary Heck

Partnerships• KBE is committed to this initiative• The success of the students on-reserve is as important as

success for students off-reserve• KBE is open to sharing – learning can go both directions• We believe this partnership will improve understanding and

respect for the diverse cultures that exist in southern Alberta• All stakeholders are benefactors of this initiative

Thank YouVisit Us at www.kainaied.caKainai Board of Education

P. O. Box 240Stand Off, Alberta T0L 1Y0Telephone: 403.737.3966Fax: 403.737.2361