School District 22 (Vernon) and the Indigenous Education Department acknowledge we are situated on the unceded, ancestral and contemporary territory of the syilx people. We honour the language, culture, history and teachings of the syilx people who are deeply connected to these lands.
way kʷu limpt p cyʕap – hello, and welcome
The SD22 Indigenous Education program supporting self-identified Indigenous students is guided by the collaborative work of the Indigenous Education Council (IEC) who provide insight and guidance for the district’s opportunities and programming to enhance Indigenous student success. The Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB), the Vernon & District Métis Association (VDMA), and the North Okanagan Friendship Centre Society (NOFCS) are represented on the IEC, and the school district values those relationships, respects those partnerships, and welcomes the shared decision-making and goal-setting needed to best meet the educational needs of Indigenous students.
The Ministry of Education and Child Care (MoECC) provides enhanced funding for school-age students of Indigenous ancestry to provide culturally appropriate education programs and services to support the success of Indigenous students. The Indigenous Education Department commits to continue to work in partnership with Indigenous rightsholders and partners represented on the IEC to develop and implement appropriate and strategic programs and initiatives for the benefit of all students with Indigenous ancestry. The allocation of the Indigenous Education Targeted Funds (IETF) for staffing and programming is determined by the IEC in a shared decision-making process.
SD22 kʷu ck̓ʷul̓x Enhancement Agreement, 2023-2028
The work of the Indigenous Education department is guided by the goal of the district’s kʷu ck̓ʷul̓x Enhancement Agreement, 2023-2028, which is designed to increase educational success for all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students in the district. This agreement was co-created by SD22 and the Indigenous Education Advisory Committee (now called the Indigenous Education Council) and focuses on four main goals to ensure Indigenous students are supported in the areas of academic achievement, culture and well-being:
Deepen knowledge and understanding of syilx and Indigenous peoples, including languages, histories, continued traditions and contemporary contexts for all students, staff and community.
Improve the sense of wellness, safety, belonging and identity for all Indigenous learners.
Improve opportunities for Indigenous student engagement and achievement.
Welcome and value Indigenous voices for strong relationships with Indigenous students, families and communities.
The goals of the kʷu ck̓ʷul̓x Enhancement Agreement are aligned with district and provincial priorities, including the OKIB-SD22 Local Education Agreement, the SD22 Strategic Plan, the SD22 Framework for Enhancing Student Learning, as well as the provincial BC Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan (BCDRIPA), and the national Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
OKIB-SD22 Local Education Agreement
The Indigenous Education Department is also guided by the OKIB-SD22 Local Education Agreement (LEA) The LEA is an agreement to ensure that on-reserve OKIB students receive culturally relevant and high-quality education. The current OKIB-SD22 LEA outlines a collaborative partnership between OKIB and SD22 to address curriculum development, language and cultural programming, and student support services, and defines the shared responsibilities in meeting the educational needs of on-reserve students.
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