Students learn benefits of living off the land in new program

The students of Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation School are taking a new approach to their school lunches, through their Land-Based Program.

Students throughout the school have assisted in gutting, cleaning and cutting the meat of a buck that was donated by one of the school’s teachers, Delane Graham. They’ve been able to weave the project into many of the different curriculums within the school.

Graham, who is the Land-Based Coordinator at the school, said students have really bought into the new activities.

“They love it,” he said. “They love all the activities and look forward to future activities. Students who don’t want to sit in class and read about how to skin a deer instead of just taking them out and doing it. They’re smiling, they’re laughing, and they’re engaged.”

The coordinator said there has been a significant push about learning more about the First Nations culture and heritage within the school and throughout the province. 

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Graham has been pushing to get other schools bought into the land-based curriculums, especially for schools that don’t have the resources to handle the program.

While incorporating projects like this one throughout their learning process, it brought the school together, from staff to students. The teachers also learn while on the job, and strengthen their abilities to better understand and relay the skills to their curriculums. Graham said in this project, students are covering English, social studies, art, and mathematics as additional skills brought through in the buck project. It’s something teachers love as well.

“They love it; they embrace it with their students. It’s a lot of a-ha moments for students and staff. They’re always looking forward to the next activity.”

All of the program’s projects are Elder led and Elder driven. They consult with the Elders and whatever they feel is important to pass down, whether it’s snaring rabbits, cleaning bucks, living off the land, or any other topic that will benefit the upcoming generation and incorporate it in a way that has life-long benefits.

Graham said the program will provide students with lifelong skills. He said without the strong support staff at the school, his program and the projects that surround it wouldn’t continue to grow, teach and flourish in the future.

Moving forward, students will learn the steps of gutting, cleaning, processing and cooking the meat from the buck project to later feed the school through its lunch program.

brady.lang@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @BradyLangCJNB