While the English First Peoples course is on its way to Belmont next year, a First Nations 12 class has already been breaking down barriers for the past few years.
The social studies course explores the history of local First Nations and is a recognized course at the university level.
Each year, about 60 students enroll in the popular course.
Belmont hopes the English First PeopleB次元官网网址檚 course becomes just as popular with its students.
Hannah Covey, 18, a non-native student took the course not knowing what she was getting into.
The course was a life changer for Covey who will pursuing more First Nations courses in university.
B次元官网网址淚t was a huge eye-opener ... it made me want to learn more and think before I judge people. (Everything changes) when you learn why things are the way they are,B次元官网网址� Covey said.
Zach Logan, 17, took the course to help learn about his own culture. He belongs to the Ditidaht First Nation.
B次元官网网址淚 learned about a lot of stuff they werenB次元官网网址檛 teaching in other classes like the genocide, wrong doings and treaties,B次元官网网址� Logan said. B次元官网网址淭his is my history. ItB次元官网网址檚 good to know the past and how dark it can be, and how to fix it B次元官网网址� I am interested in most history, but if I have the choice, learning about my own history will always be a priority,B次元官网网址� Logan said.
LoganB次元官网网址檚 grandmother even came into the classroom and taught the students about basket weaving.
B次元官网网址淗aving my grandmother come to the school and teach was major, that wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have happened at any other school,B次元官网网址� Logan said.
While Logan was able to share some of his familyB次元官网网址檚 history, other students come because they donB次元官网网址檛 know anything about their culture.
For Mitch MacDonald, 16, this course did more than teach him about First Nations history. It taught him to be proud of who he is. MacDonald is native, but unsure which nations he belongs to due to adoption within his family and other factors.
MacDonald has aboriginal ancestry on both sides of his family, but felt leery of telling people he was native and was nervous he may not be B次元官网网址渘ative enoughB次元官网网址� for the course. He was surprised at the acceptance he experienced in the course.
B次元官网网址淣ow I definitely tell more people (I am native),B次元官网网址� MacDonald said.
Next year, with the English First PeopleB次元官网网址檚 course (see story on Page A1) being offered in the school, graduating Belmont students are envious of the students who can take the course. Julia King, 16, signed up to the take the English First People course last year, but B次元官网网址� due to a limited amount of students signing up and scheduling issues B次元官网网址� the course was delayed one year.
B次元官网网址淚 think a lot of people should take courses like this and it should be in the curriculum,B次元官网网址� said King, a member of the Hagwilget First Nation in New Hazleton. King aspires to become an aboriginal youth councillor.
charla@goldstreamgazette.com
