Wednesday, on National Indigenous People’s Day, the Upper Grand District School Board shed light on an award-winning math program in its schools.
The First Nations Métis Math Voices Project is led by Coordinating Principal of Indigenous Education Colinda Clyne. It offers students the chance to learn math through interactive exercises run by Indigenous community members.
Clyne, from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg nation, says the program aims to bring Indigenous material and community members into the classroom year-round.
Currently, ten schools and counting have the desire to implement the program but not enough Indigenous artists to station at schools to teach the project.
A working solution for this challenge is creating hubs in the community that students and teachers can gather to be taught this curriculum. Clyne and her team have been awarded a grant that would aid in implementing a hub at Willow Road Public School in Guelph.
Clyne says the award-winning program has a profound impact on students.
Clyne also stated a goal of the board is to see internal growth, and one day have Indigenous youth in schools lead these artistic exercises.
She is very pleased by how students in a debrief always speak highly of building a relationship with a community partner.
