David Thompson Secondary School

Indigenous Education

Role

  • Positive and Safe Community Indigenous Role Models​
  • Provide a safe and respectful classroom for all students.  We are "moms at school with wide open arms," Christy Tallman 2010
  • Liaison:  between School District Staff, Administrators, Students & Parents,  Chief & Council, Child & Family, Youth Court Workers, Probation Officers, Restorative Justice, RCMP, Medical System, Education Systems, Treatment Programs, Tribal Council, all Outside Agencies
  • Instill and support the power of education & self worth as an individual person and most importantly as an aboriginal person
  • Be respectful to the different Nations represented in our school

Educational Presentations​

aboriginal education craft
  • Pre-contact
  • Contact-Assimilation
  • Residential School History & Survivors
  • Tour of St. Eugene's Residential School & Interpretive Centre & Residential School Survivor Speakers
  • Myth Busting
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Legends, Creation Stories
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Blanket Teachings
  • Medicine Circle Teachings

Integrations of Indigenous Content Into Classrooms

  • Textiles: Regalia, mitten making, moccasins, beading
  • PE: Metis Jig, Aboriginal Games, Stick Game, Archery
  • Science: Ethnobotany, Creation Story
  • Socials: “The Rabbit’s” Pre-Post contact, Residential School Tours,
  • English: Identity, speakers, First Peoples English, blanket exercise

Resources

students dressed in traditional aboriginal dress
  • Akisqnuk & Shuswap and Métis Community Elders
  • DTSS, local Libraries, Museum and St. Eugene's Interpretive Centre
  • Internet: First Voices- all BC Aboriginal Languages , Secwepemc (Shuswap), Ktunaxa, Métis and all other First Nations Groups
  • Ktunaxa Kinbasket Child and Family
  • Ktunaxa Kinbasket Area Council
  • Ktunaxa Kinbasket Aboriginal Training Council​
  • Métis Nation of British Columbia (MNBC)
  • North Columbia Métis Association
  • Gabriel Dumont Institute
  • FNESC First Nations Education Steering Committee
  • Columbia Valley Metis Association
  • Indigenous RCMP Liaison Officers

Post Secondary Opportunities

  • Only a certain number of  Status students will receive partial to full funding…not every qualifying student can go.
  • Only a percentage of students that apply can be funded and it is based on band population stats that have not kept up with the need. Example: 3.2 students in any given year for one local band.
  • Local Bands are allotted the funds and decisions are made by the Education Coordinators at the Shuswap & Akisqnuk Band Halls
  • Post-Secondary Visits and Tours to Okanagan and Calgary
  • Supports in accessing funding, scholarships and bursaries
  • Reference letters and letters of support for students

For more information:

  • www.studentaward.ca
  • Local Band Funding for Status Students
  • Local scholarships and Bursaries
  • National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation

For more information on aboriginal support programs in our school please contact our Sasha Taylor, our Indigenous Support Worker, at sasha.taylor@sd6.bc.ca.

Bell Schedule

Upcoming Events

Winter Break

Winter Break

Christmas Day - No School

Boxing Day - No school

Winter Break

Winter Break

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David Thompson Secondary School

Contact

1535-14th St. Unit 1
Invermere, BC V0A 1K4

Phone: 250-342-9213