School addressing needs of Aboriginals

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When Spring Squires came to Children of the Earth high school four years ago, she hated school, and only went a couple of times a month.

But today, the attractive 20-year-old mother of two and honors student is president of the school's Grand Council and rarely misses a day. This is just one of many success stories to come out of Winnipeg's first high school created for Aboriginal students, Children of the Earth.

Squires, who is part of the growing number of urban Aboriginal students several generations removed from the reserve, knew little about her culture before coming to COTE.

"I'm raising my kids with more awareness for their culture and I've got more self-esteem about who I am now, says Squires.

Established four years ago by the Winnipeg school division in response to demands from the Native community, Children of the Earth offers a blend of academic studies with compulsory language and cultural programs.

Once during each school cycle, a day is set aside for students to concentrate on an area of cultural interest. This ranges from Aboriginal arts and craft, music, dance and cooking classes to leadership development classes. Extra-curricular activities include war canoe races, and there are always staff willing to take students to a sweat lodge. Students are treated holistically at COTE and the medicine wheel is used to teach the importance of creating a balance in the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional components of a person's life.

It is hoped that improving the school experience for Aboriginal students will combat the 70-per-cent drop-out rate that afflicts Native students nation-wide. Bill Sanderson, one of only two Aboriginal school trustees with Winnipeg School Division, says COTE is giving students choices they never had at other schools.

"At other schools, Aboriginal students are always pigeon-holed into the vocational stream. At Children of the Earth, they have choices, they have the option of going onto university or college if they want." But the biggest plus of Children of the Earth, says Sanderson, is that culture, and self-esteem go hand-in-hand.

"You ask any Aboriginal youth today and they'll say the biggest problem at other schools is racism, institutionalized racism that is built into the system.

Mary Courchene, Principal of COTE, knows first-hand about racism in the education system. She grew up on Sagkeeng First Nation,110 km north of Winnipeg, and was sent to a government residential school during the 1950s.

"When I cam home in the summer, I hated my parents for who they were. I never realized at the time how traumatic it really was, but looking back I realize the effects it had on me then. And even today it's still something I fight with," says Courchene.

But Courchene returned to the world of education and after a lengthy teaching career took the position of principal at COTE four years ago when the intended principal backed out at the last minute. Through children of the Earth, Courchene says she has finally come full circle.

"I can embrace my culture and roots through this very institution that took it away."