Winter’s first snow is blanketing the land as I write this reflection. Biboon brings a certain clarity with her on the North Wind, the speed and space to recast the stories of the year past and weave them into the fabric of our lives.
And what a year it has been for Sagamok Education!
· We opened Biidaaban’s new home, where physical activity, food and nutrition, land-based learning, and cultural instruction can all co-mingle in the same space.
· We opened the Life-Long Learning Centre, where anyone who is looking for support in getting to the next phase of their life, be it through education, training, employment supports, counselling, professional development, learning for interest, or any combination, can walk in and get what they need, simply and clearly.
· We built supports for Anishinaabemowin language instruction for all our young learners at both Biidaaban and Shki Waase-Aaban.
· We refocused our energies in literacy, numeracy, and special education programs, while adding formal land-based learning, library, and music programs to our curricular mix.
· We built our relationships with our First Nations and Allied partners to share knowledge and resources and improve access to programs, like our Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) program and our high school literacy program.
Every day I am amazed at the awesome learning that happens through Sagamok Education, and I’m humbled by the work that our professional teachers, language and cultural instructors, early childhood educators, educational assistants, guidance and career coaches, and all the folks who support them are doing to ensure that every learner’s journey is safe and supported.
I want to close by acknowledging the awesome work that Sagamok is doing as a community in advancing recognition for Sagamok’s inherent right to education jurisdiction for its members. The long era of colony-dominated education is waning, thanks to the active engagement of Sagamok’s Gimaa and Council and Sagamok’s Education Committee. I am excited about our engagement with the First Nations with Schools Collective, and I look forward to helping advance that work next year.
I have said before and I will say again, and likely not for the last time, that it is the greatest honour of my professional life to serve this community as your Director of Education.
