An ambitious new Merritt Secondary School program will immerse students in First Nations culture and teach them core subjects like science in native terms.

For about 25 local Grade 9 students, Aboriginal Academy 9 will replace that grade's science, social studies, language arts, and fine arts classes.

Tim Manuel, the former chief of Upper Nicola Indian Band and now a First Nations support worker at Merritt Secondary School, will teach the academy, made up of about 25 students for the second semester of the school year, from Jan. 30 until the end of June.

He hailed the academy as an example of "Indian control of Indian education."

"It's something that hasn't been done in the public school system.

"I've always thought of it as the tip of the spear."

Merritt Secondary School introduced Aboriginal Academy 9 to School District 58 officials, students, and parents at the House of Honour located on the high school grounds Wednesday night.

The academy is open to both Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals. However, Manuel said the student body of about 25 was made up almost entirely of First Nations teens.
Two Metis are also registered.

Asked by a parent if removing the students from classes would isolate academy members and lead to negative stereotypes, Manuel replied, "I wouldn't say isolated.
We'd be visible in the school."

"It's a legitimate concern, absolutely," said MSS principal Bill Lawrence. However, he noted that the academy members were enrolled in regular classes for the first half of the year and mixed with other students then.

Manuel and Merritt Secondary School vice-principal Karen Goetz discussed the academy's goals, curriculum, and how success, both for individual students and the program as a whole, would be measured.

Goetz said the academy takes a holistic approach to education and tailors education to a native point of view.

Manuel will instruct the students throughout the school day, five days a week, and as spring approaches, they will spend more and more time outside of the classroom.

The academy is intended to improve the six-year graduation rates, health and wellness, and feelings of self-worth and identity of Aboriginal students, Goetz said.

"We think you're important. We hope you think you're as important as we think you are."

At the same time, the academy would increase students' knowledge of and participation in native culture, including language, she added.

Manuel outlined the course material for the science, social studies, language arts, and fine arts sections of Aboriginal Academy 9.

For example, social studies will cover topics like the development of native economies, history of local First Nations, and the political structure of bands.
Activities might include visits to band government buildings.

Meanwhile, science will cover topics like which plants are edible and have medicinal properties, how the seasons and moon cycles affect nature, and environmental stewardship.

Along with teaching local native tongues, language arts will cover local oral traditions, stories, and legends.

Visual and performing arts will make up the fine arts category.

The students will be graded on their ability to use that knowledge as they spend more time in the field. They will also be required to complete independent projects at the end of the year with a visual and oral component.

Assuming academy students are successful, they will receive credit for Grade 9 science, social studies, language arts, and fine arts.

Local native elders would lend their expertise where available.

According to School District 58 superintendent Bob Peacock, the school decided to introduce the Aboriginal Academy in Grade 9 first because there are no provincial exams that year.

Assistant superintendent Steve McNiven said that, based on how well the program works this year, the academy may expand to two semesters or higher grades.

Education officials stressed that the academy would likely run into unexpected problems in its first year.

"Sometimes we may stumble and so sometimes we may make mistakes," said Shelley Oppenheim-Lacerte, First Nations district principal for School District 58.