Renewing partnership for Native education

The growing population of first nations students will continue to get access to educational services that are targeted towards enhancing their culture, said education officials Wednesday morning.

The Rainbow School Board renewed its partnership with N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre in a ceremony at the community centre on Elm St.

Board chair Judy Hunda signed a memorandum of agreement that ensures students who wish to obtain a high school diploma can receive the appropriate relevant services.

The N’Swakamok Native Alternative School, offering the services, operates as a satellite of Sudbury Secondary School in partnership with the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre.

The Friendship Centre provides the facility and two staff members:a native education support worker and a clerical support worker. To attend the school First Nations, Metis and Inuit students must be a minimum of 16 years of age and out of school. Students work at their own pace on independent learning courses modified to include native content. Students receive one-on-one assistance from teachers.

The Ontario Ministry of Education has identified Native education as a key priority in order to improve student achievement for all native students, including status and non-status First Nations, Metis, and Inuit children and youth, said Nicole Charette, senior advisor for the Rainbow Board.