Beauval enters a new age in education

Page 18

This is a story of hope and optimism. The future of the Beauval Indian Education Centre in Saskatchewan, and the students it houses, is bright.

The Beauval Indian Education Centre is a school for Aboriginal people. BIEC is under the administration of the director Mr. Gary Frank Mirasty who is also a former student. A place where education takes on many forms, and fits the special requirements of the people, not the other way around.

Today, with new and improved policies that work with the students rather than against them, students have a better chance of staying in school. It's a far cry from the school envisioned by the Oblate Fathers and Sisters of St. Joseph who opened the doors of Beauval Indian Education Centre in 1906.

The school's new philosophy of integrating healing concepts and cultural programs provides the students with more than an education. Extra-curricular activities and on site counsellors help the students to deal with their problems so they can learn.

A set of eight strategies for the next five years lays out the future. They have been developed by past and present students, parents, career education planners, staff, Elders and the Meadow Lake Tribal Council.

Included in the eight point plan is a search system that will be established to locate and recruit qualified Aboriginal teachers and support staff to fill positions which become vacant through attrition.

A youth organization committee will ensure development of club activities at 100 per cent student participation and develop a tutoring program which will be made available to all students.

The school will develop a two stream comprehensive high school to meet the educational needs of all the students, and will ensure the courses respect the unique contribution of First Nations people through development of culturally relevant courses.

Human resources will be made available to develop spiritual programs, a human development training program will also be made available, as well effective sports and recreation activities are provided.

Both First Nations and parental involvement is most welcome.

Another important aspect of Beauval Indian Education Centre is its provision of resource people and workshops that facilitate the development of cultural, art, drama, communications, and other related programs such s film and video, radio broadcasting, and audio visual.

In all, the Beauval Indian Education Centre is on the path to success to wants to provide a roadmap to success for its students.