Native papers an important teaching tool

Page 28

After hearing two local high school students debate the validity of a mega-forestry project in northern Alberta, based in information gathered from a Native newspaper found in the school library. Bonnyville area school superintendent Ed Nicholson knew he had to do something.

He wrote a letter to Finance Minister Michael Wilson asking him to change his mind about slashing funds to Native communications across the country.

Nicholson said Native newspapers have become an important part in the teaching methods used to educate the large Native and non-Native student population in the Lakeland Public School District.

"It's a very powerful communication tool for the young people to have," he said.

Nicholson said it's ironic the public school system spends over $100,000 annually to promote Native heritage while the federal government is trying to phase it out.

"Here we are spending a lot of money, time and effort teaching awareness and better communication between Native and non-Native people and one of the best tools for doing this are these papers," he said.

The Lakeland School District set up a Native education project three years ago to help students and parents become better informed about aboriginal issues. The project is part of the Alberta education plan to add Indian and Metis affairs to the curriculum with the consultation of Native parents.

Teachers on staff also promote culture within the school district, which has a high Native student population.

Nicholson noted many Native students heed the messages conveyed to them by their elders through Native media.

He said it's especially important for schools to be better prepared in education Natives and non-Natives about aboriginal culture. He said Native newspapers are the best way to do that.

"I spent many days and evenings in the meetings with elders as they expressed growing concern and sadness over the state of our environment," he wrote in his letter to Wilson.

"As I recall those discussions over the past 20 years, I realize how accurate their predictions were."

The Lakeland Public School District operates 12 schools with a total enrollment of 4,000 students.