Upgraded partnership unveiled for First Nation’s students and Saskatoon Public Schools

A partnership between the Government of Canada, the Whitecap Dakota First Nation (WDFN) and Saskatoon Public Schools (SPS) has been renewed.

Charles Red Hawk Elementary School on the Whitecap Dakota First Nation will be the first on-reserve school to be part of a Saskatchewan school division.

“We have had agreements in the past,” Chief Darcy Bear of Whitecap Dakota First Nation said. “Now it’s evolved into more formal agreements.”

“In the past, if we had to bring teachers to our community they would have to resign from the Saskatoon Public School Division and they would lose all their benefits. Now they have job security because our school in Whitecap is part of the Saskatoon Public School Division family.”

The agreement also puts in place a more flexible funding model to support student learning for at least another five years. This will allow students in the community to make an easier transition into Saskatoon schools after Grade 4, as well as receiving more flexible funding.

“Our partnership with SPS, combined with a new funding model under our tripartite agreement is eliminating disparities in education,” Bear said. “By combining the forces and resources of our partners and maintaining our First Nations control of education through our joint governance agreement, I am confident we are giving the best educational opportunity available for our children.”

Students in the community will continue to attend Charles Red Hawk School up until Grade 5, before being able to attend Chief Whitecap School in Saskatoon up until Grade 8.

“We have about 50 students attending Chief Whitecap School in Stonebridge,” Bear said. “They are flying our flag outside, we have a culture room in there, it brings a lot of pride to the children.”

After Grade 8, students attend a public high school in the city.

“Now that we are recognized under the regional education authority, there will be resources available for culture and language. When we weren’t recognized those dollars couldn’t follow the students that were bussed into Saskatoon,” Bear added. “It was only funding the school in our community, now with the signing today those dollars can follow our students into Saskatoon.”

“At the end of the day this is about our children, there are so many opportunities available for our people to be employable.”

Colleen MacPherson, SPS board chair, believes this agreement will benefit everyone.

“For students that are not members of the Dakota First Nation it is a very valuable experience to learn alongside, it has a benefit for more than just the students from the First Nation but for all the students in our system,” MacPherson said.

“It’s a critical piece for students to be exposed to language and culture that reflects who they are. There have been formal agreements since 2014, after today there will be more sustainable funding to support additional language and culture programs for students coming into Chief Whitecap School.”