2017–2018 ANNUAL REPORT Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre Inc
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2017–2018 ANNUAL REPORT Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre Inc. is guided by the following vision and mission statements: Vision Support First Nations to develop and implement a comprehensive holistic educational system inclusive of First Nations languages, world views, values, beliefs, and traditions with exemplary academic standards, under First Nation jurisdiction. Mission To help First Nations improve education for all learners to achieve: mino-pimatisiwin (Cree, Ojibwe, Ojibwe-Cree). To help First Nations improve education for all learners to achieve: honso aynai (Dene). To help First Nations improve education for all learners to achieve: tokadakiya wichoni washte (Dakota). CONTENTS MESSAGES AMC Grand Chief .............................................................................................. 1 Chairperson .............................................................................................. 2 Executive Director .............................................................................................. 3 IN MEMORIAM Sheron Fiddler .............................................................................................. 4 Gwen Merrick .............................................................................................. 5 John Peter Day .............................................................................................. 6 Sandy Wood .............................................................................................. 6 Victor Harper .............................................................................................. 7 REPORT Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Programs ..........................................................................................................................................9 First Nations Language & Culture and First Nations Studies ..................................................................... 9 Incorporating Language, Traditional Elder Knowledge, and Land-Based Education into the Curriculum .....................................................................................................10 Literacy & Numeracy .......................................................................................................................................11 Early Learning ....................................................................................................................................................12 Physical Education & Health .........................................................................................................................15 Science & Technology .....................................................................................................................................16 Wilfred Buck and the Manitoba First Nations Portable Planetarium ............................................................18 Instructional Resource Centre .......................................................................................................................20 Cultivating a Love of Reading in First Nations Students .................................................................................21 Student Learning Assessment .......................................................................................................................22 Wapaskwa Virtual Collegiate .........................................................................................................................23 Providing Alternative First Nations Education ................................................................................................24 Special Education .......................................................................................................................25 Special Education Services.............................................................................................................................25 Training Initiatives ...........................................................................................................................................26 Clinical Services ...............................................................................................................................................29 On the Road with Jessica Murray | School Psychologist .................................................................................30 Sensory-Motor Equipment Project ...................................................................................................................31 Research & Development ...........................................................................................................32 Preserving Our History for Tomorrow’s Generations .....................................................................................34 Manitoba First Nations School System ....................................................................................35 Operations .....................................................................................................................................39 Data Management ...........................................................................................................................................39 Publishing and Communications .................................................................................................................40 Our Tomorrows, Today: Wahbung 1971 ...........................................................................................................43 Human Resources ........................................................................................................................44 Finance ...........................................................................................................................................46 Two-Year Financial Summary .........................................................................................................................48 Appendix ........................................................................................................................................49 Appendix A: MFNERC Services & Functions .................................................................................................49 Appendix B: MFNERC Organizational Chart 2018 .......................................................................................50 Appendix C: MFNSS Organizational Chart 2018 ..........................................................................................51 MESSAGE from the AMC GRAND CHIEF Grand Chief Arlen Dumas Mathias Colomb Cree Nation The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) congratulates We need to restore the inherent jurisdiction over the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre education of our children, and the work that MFNERC (MFNERC) and its staff and board members for another has been doing will help lead the way. successful year. When we instill pride in our children, we are investing I felt great pride witnessing the launch of the Manitoba in our future as First Nations. Investing in First Nations First Nations School System (MFNSS) this past year. means we will do well, and when we do well, everyone The AMC is proud to provide continued support to around us does too. MFNERC. I wish the board members and staff of MFNERC The work of the Centre is so important in the education another great year. of our young people. For too long, our children have Sincerely, learned about their history through a colonial lens, but Grand Chief Arlen Dumas with the work of MFNERC, our children are learning Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs from a First Nations perspective. www.mfnerc.org 1 MESSAGE from the CHAIRPERSON Chief Clarence Easter Chemawawin Cree Nation This was an exciting year with a number of firsts. We • $1.14 million for language and culture resources to established the Manitoba First Nations School System support First Nations Language and Culture and in partnership with 10 First Nations. Several other First Nations Studies Programs in 45 schools under First Nations have indicated their interest in joining the New Paths for Education program. in 2019–20. We were pleased MFNSS caught the atten- • $200 thousand for physical education equipment tion of many people across Canada, including Prime and health resources to support Physical Education Minister Justin Trudeau. He sent a video congratulating and Health Programs through land-based educa- us and extending greetings to the four students from tion programs in 45 schools under the New Paths Brokenhead Ojibway Nation who had sent him a video for Education program. invitation to attend the Grand Opening. The Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, Dr. Jane Philpott, attended • $2.9 million for sensory-motor equipment for all both the Grand Opening and the Sunrise Ceremony First Nations schools under the High Cost Special to mark the beginning of the new school year for the Education program to assist in addressing clini- school system. cian-identified needs for sensory-motor regulation, sensory-motor programming, and optimized func- Our organization also established new partnerships with tional communication for students. various universities to train First Nations professionals in specialized fields. We have new partnerships with I want to acknowledge my colleague—former Chief the University of Calgary and Minot State University. Stephanie Blackbird—who was also