Minister hits bull's-eye on visit to Sault schools (5 photos)

Ontario is pouring more money into Indigenous education, both locally and across the province.

That from Mitzie Hunter, minister of education, while visiting Sault Ste. Marie’s Urban Aboriginal School Monday.

Hunter enthusiastically took part in several fun activities during her visit to the school, including indoor archery, artwork and visiting with young and adult learners.

The minister announced the government will fund a dedicated Indigenous Education Lead for each Ontario school board. 

Ontario is increasing its spending on Indigenous education by more than $6 million.

Overall funding for Indigenous Education in Ontario’s 2016-2017 Grants for Student Needs is projected to be $64 million, an increase of about $52 million since 2007, according to a news release from the minister’s office issued Monday.

“(The extra funding) is designed to close the achievement gap between Indigenous students and all students in Ontario,” Hunter told reporters.

“Hiring an indigenous education lead will help school boards coordinate programs across schools and ensure Indigenous students receive culturally appropriate supports.”

The Urban Aboriginal School, located at the former Etienne Brule Public School site at 241 Albert Street West, is operated by the Algoma District School Board (ADSB) in partnership with the local Indian Friendship Centre.

Hunter also took an extensive tour of the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board’s St. Mary’s College earlier Monday morning (where she checked out Indigenous education activities there as well, in addition to all of the new school’s modern facilities) before visiting the Urban Aboriginal School and École Notre-Dame-du-Sault.

“I have really been impressed by what I’ve seen here in Sault Ste. Marie in providing supports for Indigenous students,” Hunter told SooToday, referring to the Urban Aboriginal School and the Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program at St. Mary’s College.

“The teachers here help a lot . . . I feel like I get a lot more work done here than I could in any other school,” said Tara Blue, an Urban Aboriginal School student.

“The teachers here help you and motivate you to do better, not to give up,” Blue told reporters.

“This school makes a lot of difference for me as an aboriginal person because I was actually put down a lot for trying to finish school . . . some people in the community will put you down, but here they help you with everything, including resumes.”

“I love it here,” Blue told SooToday.

“This (Urban Aboriginal School and Monday’s funding announcement) is important because it allows more of the culture and the teachings and the identities of our students…once students get in touch with their culture, with who they are and where they came from, it helps them 'form' themselves, and we’ve seen their education bloom from there and take off,” said Crystal Kingston, the Indian Friendship Centre’s education director.