Chief Long Lodge Education Centre gives Indigenous students a second chance
Carry the Kettle First Nation opened a new education centre focused on giving Indigenous people a second chance to finish high school.
Chief Long Lodge Education Centre, located just outside of Indian Head, is inviting young adults on the reserve who may have left school before they graduated to complete their Grade 12 requirements.
“We are trying to ensure that these kids reach those same heights, the same as any other child in their province,” Bob Kowalchuk, director of education for Carry the Kettle, said.
Currently there are 13 students between the ages of 16 and 21 participating in classes to receive their high school diplomas.
Kowalchuk said it is important to integrate the students back into the education system for their future.
“Many jobs require an entry level of Grade 12 standing. Many jobs, or university certainly, want you to have a high enough standard to get in,” Kowalchuk added.
Brady O’Watch, Chief of Carry the Kettle First Nation, said the idea has been fully supported since it was first brought to council.
“We all understand how important education is. We all know the opportunities it can bring,” Chief O’Watch said.
He added the First Nation is ensuring the students are getting the education needed to go to post secondary, but also education around Indigenous culture.
“We have teachers in here teaching that western way, but also we have a teepee, we have elders come speak about how important education is for themselves and how important it is for our people,” O’Watch stated.
The students will participate in traditional ceremonies, like pipe ceremonies, learn the Nakota language and learn about spirituality.
Sixteen-year-old Cheryl Francis is a student at the school. She said the program allows students to take their time to understand the course material and it’s not as strict as other schools she has been in.
“There’s good communication with the educators and the staff,” Francis said.
She said she hopes to go to business school and open her own business, adding getting her Grade 12 diploma will allow her to do that.
Carry the Kettle council believes Chief Long Lodge Education Centre is just the beginning.
It hopes to add a college or post secondary education to campus in the future.
“I want everything, we are going to push for every kind of program, everything that we can possibly get here,” councillor Conrad Medicinerope said.
Chief O’Watch said his dream is to educate the people on the reserve from birth until they are adults.
Currently, Chief Long Lodge Education Centre is fully funded by Indigenous Services Canada.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL has suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly at least nine games for violating the league's gender-based violence policy.