The province of Saskatchewan is investing 3 million dollars toward two initiatives that came out of recommendations by a joint task force on education and employment outcomes of First Nations and Metis people.
Half of the funding will be used to expand the program, Help Me Tell My Story, which aims to support parents to be teachers in their own homes.
Maureen Taylor, Superintendent of the Saskatchewan Rivers School Division, says the program has already made a big difference for First Nations and Metis children, as well as their families.
Taylor says integral to the program is a stuff turtle named aski, who is there for the assessment part of the program and returns for the review.
“We have seen non-communicative children run to hug him and say, “He’s back! He’s back.” Much to the amazement of their teacher. We have had parents come to school to hear about the results and see the parent portal only to leave and return an hour later with their spouse so they too can see how it can support their children.”
The other 1.5 million dollars will go toward providing on-reserve schools with the same supports provincial schools have, whether it be speech language pathologists or reading and math coaches.
Education Minister Don Morgan says that while First Nations and Metis education typically falls to the federal government, the province thinks “it’s important to tear down some jurisdictional walls.”
He says the province won’t build infrastructure but is open to providing money for programming.