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Indigenous Education » Indigenous Education

Indigenous Education

The Northwest Catholic District School Board is made up of 6 schools consisting of 1350 students. We have approximately 100 students enrolled in our Native Language Program. Our Native Language Program is present in 3 schools within our board, Sacred Heart School in Sioux Lookout, St. Mary in Fort Frances and Our Lady of the Way in Stratton.
 
 At our school, St. Mary, students are able to enroll in our Native Language Program as early as Grade One. It is imperative that we ensure First Nation, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) cultures are recognized and supported within our schools.
 
It is the mandate of The Northwest Catholic District School Board to ensure the promotion of an excellent Catholic Education, based on gospel values for all its students and to provide quality education to Aboriginal students in all schools of The Northwest Catholic District School Board.  The Board will ensure that all schools will implement the curriculum principles found in the 2007 Ontario First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Education Policy Framework document that will:
  • increase the capacity of the education system to respond to the learning and cultural needs of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students;
  • provide quality programs, services, and resources to help create learning opportunities for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students that support improved academic achievement and identity building;
  • provide a curriculum that facilitates learning about contemporary and traditional First  Nation, Métis, and Inuit cultures, histories, and perspectives among all students, and that also contributes to the education of school board staff, teachers, and elected  trustees; and
  • develop and implement strategies that facilitate increased participation by First Nation, Métis, and Inuit parents, students, communities, and organizations in working to support academic success.​