Education Minister Don Morgan at the launch of the Following Their Voices program at the Wesmor Community School in Prince Albert last fall. Photo by Chelsea Laskowski.
One year ago, several schools across the province decided to implement the Following Their Voices program, and according to one northern Saskatchewan school principal, the program is working.
Following Their Voices is a Saskatchewan made initiative that aims to help teachers build stronger relationships with their students. The aim of the program is to create positive learning environments to meet the needs of First Nations and Metis students.
The program follows recommendations made by the FSIN through a joint task force on improving education and employment incomes.
Pineshouse’s Minahik Waskahigan High School was one of 17 schools across the province that adopted a three-year pilot project of the program last fall.
According to school principal Curtis Chandler, the program has already had a significant impact.
“It’s made us all, from administration all the way down, far more aware of the importance of understanding where our kids are coming from and how they are coming to school every day,” said Chandler. “We are taking the time to actually get to know our students.”
Even though the program is still in its infancy, Chandler says the impacts are noticeable.
“I have noticed less traffic in my office over the past year and I think a large part of that is due to our teachers strengthening their relationships with our students and sorting any issues out in a positive manner,” he said.
Pinehouse also entered this new school year by implementing the program in their elementary school.
Five of the 17 schools currently running the Following Their Voices in the province program are on reserve.