More Indigenous culture needed in schools, says teachers’ union
The union representing Saskatchewan’s teachers says the Ministry of Education needs improvement when it comes to the allocation of people and resources with the province’s public schools for Indigenous language instruction.
Over the past few weeks, representatives from the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) have been meeting with Indigenous leaders across the province. STF President Patrick Maze said one of the common themes at the meetings was a concern expressed by the leaders over losing their language.
“I think everyone knows how important culture is in helping improve First Nations and Metis [graduation rates], and if culture is important then certainly language is a keystone to any culture,” he said.
In 2018-2019, the provincial education budget provided $1.87 million dollars was provided in school operating funding, an increase of $30 million from the previous year. According to an emailed statement from the Ministry of Education, they provide funding to the school divisions, wh, in turn, decide the programming choices to best meet local needs. Maze said Indigenous leaders he has spoken to have indicated they would like to see stronger direction come from the government level, and that school divisions don’t necessarily have all the funds they need to provide the programming