Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Aboriginal services highlighted

Students sit around a craft table, stringing together beads and feathers while, in the background, others pound out a steady beat on a communal drum.
WolfPack.18.jpg
At their annual open house, aboriginal education workers Ali Carriere and Krista Hill sing with Vincent Prince of the Aboriginal Business and Community Development Centre.

Students sit around a craft table, stringing together beads and feathers while, in the background, others pound out a steady beat on a communal drum.

They are only few of the more than 200 aboriginal students the Wolf Pack Centre serves at the Centre for Learning Alternatives.

"We try to connect with most of all of students, whether it's programming, we go to them or they come to us," said Krista Hill, one of two aboriginal education workers at the school.

Hill and Ali Carriere run 12 programs, four of which are run out of the centre at the former John McInnis secondary school, while the rest are offered in the community.

"Usually we start off with relationship building and teaching the students a circle process," said Hill, referring to the talking circle or talking feather. They also work on cultural identity, spiritual and ceremonial practices, as well as the medicine wheel and holistic healing.

They cover a wide variety of educational opportunities, ranging from arts and crafts to discussions on racism and residential schools.

Carriere said it's important schools have aboriginal-focussed learning and development. Wednesday's annual open house was meant to encourage students to use the services at the centre and the support the two of them can provide.

"There's just a really, really high need for it. Culture and identity is lacking in our school system and [it's] to give these kids a sense of belonging back into school," said Carriere. "We have to promote more of the culture and give more pride.

Added Hill, "And we want to bring up graduation rates for aboriginal students."

That number sits at 56 per cent compared with 81 per cent for non-Aboriginals learners in District 57. That's up from 38 per cent from seven years before.

Improving the graduation rate for aboriginal students was outlined as an objective in the district's three-year achievement contract, published in July.

Many students are at the Centre for Learning Alternatives as a last resort - though some choose to enroll - having been moved from mainstream education.

While many face barriers, have experienced trauma or come from high-risk backgrounds, both Hill and Carriere stress that much like any teenager, each student's experience is different.

"Every single kid that comes to us comes from a different place," said Carriere, adding each has their own individual education plan and as with all students, it's important to adapt support to each student's needs.

The two said they've been successful at building community and stronger relationships.

"Like this" said Hill, gesturing to the open house.

"We want them to feel like it's another place like home," said Carriere of the Wolf Pack Centre. "I hope they get a connection. Even if it's just knowing a location of a room, it's a step."