Getting kids motivated in math can be a challenge but the Kahkewistahaw School near Broadview seems to have found the right formula for success.
The grade five class at the school placed first in the annual First Nations University Wiseman mathematics contest.
The students competed against students from 31 First Nations from schools in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
School principal Evan Taypotat says First Nations schools are forced to do more with less.
He says while that may not be fair, his school is determined to do the best it can.
“We always hear about the lack of funding on first nations reserves,” he says, “ well we try at the Kahewistahaw school not to complain about it, we try to think outside the box and make it work. Yes we are underfunded per kid on the reserve but at the end of the day complaining and crying about it does us no good.”
The FNU Wiseman Math competition began in 2008 and does not have registration fees, making it easily accessible to all First Nations Schools.
More than 800 students in grades 4, 5 and 6 competed this year.
A ceremony recognizing the accomplishments of the students at the Kahewistahaw First Nation will be held at the school today.