Aboriginal Advocate Program a success in Regina public schools
- Jeanelle Mandes | February 17, 2016
A program with the Regina Public Schools has been helping to improve the lives of self declared Aboriginal students in high school.
The Aboriginal Advocate program is utilized to mentor students to succeed in their studies and establish connections and to provide support while building relationships with the students and their parents or caregivers.
Kenilee Pelletier, a Grade 11 Winston Knoll Collegiate student, has been a part of the program for two years now and says it has benefitted her in many ways.
“It’s helped me think about what I want to be, what kinds of fields I want to go into and to have someone guide me,” says Pelletier.
The mentorship program has opened her mind to possible careers in law or in journalism but is undecided where to study at. She is thankful for her mentor Peter Turner, one of the Aboriginal Advocate teachers, makes sure she attends school, helps with her homework and informs her of future opportunities including getting a part-time job.
“Having the aboriginal advocate there, he’s always there. He’s someone to go to…all he sees is the good and potential in you,” she says.
The intention of the program is to support self-declared Aboriginal students concentrating on helping them achieve graduation. Seven other Regina Public Schools have Aboriginal Advocates mentoring the students who self-declare.
“We support students with their course work, assessments and with any circumstances or challenges in or out of school,” says Aboriginal Advocate Peter Turner who is in his second year in the position. “Being an aboriginal advocate in serving the purpose to assist students is a tremendous privilege.”
Turner describes Pelletier as being quite active in the school community and displays a positive track record of attendance. She wants to pursue a post-secondary education after completing high school to follow the footsteps of her role models, one being her mother who is very thankful her daughter is benefiting from this program.
“I was happy when she got involved, it helped her to be more outgoing in her studies and beyond her classes,” says mother Janice Pelletier. “[The Aboriginal Advocate teacher] communicates with us quite frequently.”
Which she believes is important for her family. Pelletier wants her daughter to be happy going to high school and says it’s the best years of your life. “She has good goals and I like that,” she adds. “I never really had that growing up, I never had much encouragement growing up…I believe education is key.”
According to Regina Public School Division document, the 2014-2015 Division planning for First Nations and Métis Achievement is based on ‘attendance, basic skills and credit attainment, culturally sensitive and appropriate curriculum instruction and assessment and family or community involvement and support.’