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by Kenneth Cheung
Children in Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, Lean Man First Nation (MGBHLM) will soon have a better support system in school, thanks to a new agreement that will bring a full-time social worker into the classroom.
MGBHLM has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kanaweyimik Child and Family Services on Aug. 7 to launch a two-year pilot placing a full-time social worker in the community’s K-8 school.
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Chief Tanya Aguilar-Antiman, also known as Tanya Stone, said the initiative was made possible through surplus funds at the agency, which provides the Nation’s child protection services. Both sides agreed the unused dollars should go toward a project that could make a direct difference for children and families.
“So a plan was identified to have a social worker in the school,” she noted.
Kanaweyimik has already completed recruitment for the position, with the new hire to be based at the school daily as part of the educational team.
The pilot is tied to a broader regional education assessment aimed at securing funding on par with, or better than, the provincial system.
Aim to preserve Nakoda language
Aguilar-Antiman said the process will help bring in subject experts, strengthen academic programming and preserve the Nakoda language from daycare through high school.
“If we want to create doctors and engineers, we need someone strong in math and physics … we need to bring in those kinds of experts to be part of our process with education to help our students reach those levels.”
“It’s also about language — if we want to speak the Nakoda language, we need to start speaking the language right at the daycare level.”
She said the approach sets MGBHLM apart. Not all First Nations are pursuing this kind of advocacy, she explained, but “this is something we know is the best interest for our children for the future.”
Aguilar-Antiman said the work has full support from within the community, Indigenous Services Canada and consultants, and draws on similar successes in Ontario and Alberta.
“I always say I’m a lucky person because I have a team — not only leadership, but staff.”
“Education, social areas, child and family [and] housing like — it’s amazing how all the team players come together and move this thing along. It cannot be done alone. We have an amazing team.”
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