The first step in the Indigenous Education Program review is now complete and at its meeting on Tuesday the School District No. 83 (North Okanagan-Shuswap) Board of Education received a report on the findings.
Researcher Dr. Shelly Niemi was contracted to do an external Indigenous Education Program review. She conducted 40 one-on-one interviews about the program with a wide range of stakeholders including Indigenous education staff, teachers, support staff, principals and vice-principals, senior administration, students, Elders, Indigenous community members, parents and members of the First Nations Education Council (FNEC).
The information gleaned from these interviews, emergent themes and recommendations were shared with trustees in the report (which is available at the end of this article).
Now that report is completed, work on the program review continues with smaller focus groups and an on-line survey planned. As well, a district-wide equity scan is being completed, and this information will also be important to the program review.