David Thompson Secondary School

Indigenous Education

Role

  • Positive and Safe Community Indigenous Role Models​
  • Provide a safe and respectful classroom for all students.  We are "moms at school with wide open arms," Christy Tallman 2010
  • Liaison:  between School District Staff, Administrators, Students & Parents,  Chief & Council, Child & Family, Youth Court Workers, Probation Officers, Restorative Justice, RCMP, Medical System, Education Systems, Treatment Programs, Tribal Council, all Outside Agencies
  • Instill and support the power of education & self worth as an individual person and most importantly as an aboriginal person
  • Be respectful to the different Nations represented in our school

Educational Presentations​

aboriginal education craft
  • Pre-contact
  • Contact-Assimilation
  • Residential School History & Survivors
  • Tour of St. Eugene's Residential School & Interpretive Centre & Residential School Survivor Speakers
  • Myth Busting
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Legends, Creation Stories
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Blanket Teachings
  • Medicine Circle Teachings

Integrations of Indigenous Content Into Classrooms

  • Textiles: Regalia, mitten making, moccasins, beading
  • PE: Metis Jig, Aboriginal Games, Stick Game, Archery
  • Science: Ethnobotany, Creation Story
  • Socials: “The Rabbit’s” Pre-Post contact, Residential School Tours,
  • English: Identity, speakers, First Peoples English, blanket exercise

Resources

students dressed in traditional aboriginal dress
  • Akisqnuk & Shuswap and Métis Community Elders
  • DTSS, local Libraries, Museum and St. Eugene's Interpretive Centre
  • Internet: First Voices- all BC Aboriginal Languages , Secwepemc (Shuswap), Ktunaxa, Métis and all other First Nations Groups
  • Ktunaxa Kinbasket Child and Family
  • Ktunaxa Kinbasket Area Council
  • Ktunaxa Kinbasket Aboriginal Training Council​
  • Métis Nation of British Columbia (MNBC)
  • North Columbia Métis Association
  • Gabriel Dumont Institute
  • FNESC First Nations Education Steering Committee
  • Columbia Valley Metis Association
  • Indigenous RCMP Liaison Officers

Post Secondary Opportunities

  • Only a certain number of  Status students will receive partial to full funding…not every qualifying student can go.
  • Only a percentage of students that apply can be funded and it is based on band population stats that have not kept up with the need. Example: 3.2 students in any given year for one local band.
  • Local Bands are allotted the funds and decisions are made by the Education Coordinators at the Shuswap & Akisqnuk Band Halls
  • Post-Secondary Visits and Tours to Okanagan and Calgary
  • Supports in accessing funding, scholarships and bursaries
  • Reference letters and letters of support for students

For more information:

  • www.studentaward.ca
  • Local Band Funding for Status Students
  • Local scholarships and Bursaries
  • National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation

For more information on aboriginal support programs in our school please contact our Sasha Taylor, our Indigenous Support Worker, at sasha.taylor@sd6.bc.ca.

Bell Schedule

Day 1/ Day 2 Rotation Calendar

Upcoming Events

Online Engagement Sessions

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Fire drill

10:45 am - 11:00 am

Board Of Education Meeting

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Victoria Day - No School

JA Laird track meet

Windermere Elementary track meet

View Calendar

David Thompson Secondary School

Contact

1535-14th St. Unit 1
Invermere, BC V0A 1K4

Phone: 250-342-9213

District Notice

Online engagement dates

Each year, as part of a continuous improvement cycle, Rocky Mountain School District develops an operational plan that outlines the goals and strategies that will be the focus of the work for the upcoming year. This plan is guided by the current 4-year strategic plan using a variety of student data as the foundation for decision making, schools develop school success plans that identifies targets for improving student learning.

Join the District online to hear more about the draft 2024-25 Operational Plan.


April 30 at 10-11am

May 1 at 7-8pm

May 10 at 1-2pm

For more information and meeting link