SAGAMOK

ANISHNAWBEK

SELF-GOVERNING

EDUCATION

PLANNING SURVEY

REPORT

December 12, 2016

Extended survey to November 25, 2016 an

additional 40 surveys were collected

Sagamok population for on and off-reserve

membership from ages 13 years old and up is 2,459

of that ONLY 150 (6%) community members

participated in the Self-governing Education

Planning Survey

Posted survey on www.sagamokeducation.ca with

one off-reserve community member submitting

completed survey

AGE OF SURVEY PARTICIPANTS

55

33

12

26

15

6 1 1 10

10

20

30

40

50

60

13 - 18 yrs. 19 - 29 yrs. 30 - 39 yrs. 40 - 49 yrs. 50 - 59 yrs.60 - 69 yrs. 70 - 79 yrs. 80 - 89+

yrs.

DID NOT

INDICATE

Nu

mb

er

of P

art

icip

an

ts

Age Range

GENDER PARTICIPATION

Females 94

Males 56

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Female membership on and off-reserve population (13yrs.+) is 1,247 an increase from 28 females (2.2%) to 94 (7.5%) participated in the Self-governing Education Survey

Male membership on and off-reserve population (13yrs. +) is 1,212 an increase from 38 males (3.1%) to 56 (4.6%) participated in the Self-governing Education Survey

RESIDENCE

On-reserve membership

(13yrs.+) is 1,291 an

increase from

106 (8.1%) to 144 (11%)

participated in the

survey

144

22

On Reserve

Off Reserve

Did Not Indicate

Residency

ATTENDED

ELEMENTARY

SCHOOL

67

38

12

33

On Reserve Provincial School Attended Both Did not Indicate

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION COMPLETED

33

62

4

31

1

13

50

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Elementary Secondary G.E.D./A.C.E College Trades University Did Not Indicate

51

2

25

7

0

119

15

4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

LANGUAGE USE AND KNOWLEDGE

26

134

24

52

36

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Anishnaabemowin

1st Language

English Speak

Anishnaabemowin

Understand

AnishnaabemowIn

Read & Write

Anishnaabemowin

GOVERNANCE

Number of survey participants that are not

aware of Sagamok Anishnawbek Education

Departments’

Vision Statement is 119 people

Mission Statement is 121 people

Guiding Principles is 113 people

Philosophy is 118 people

Sagamok Anishnawbek Education

Department will need to make a concerted

effort to promote and communicate its’

vision, mission, guiding principles and

philosophy to community members, through

the use of

www.sagamokeducation.ca

Literature

Forums

Focus groups

One-on-one interviews

VISION

EQUAL

SUPPORTIVE

QUALITY

CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE

LANGUAGE BASED

GUIDING

Survey

participants

share a

common vision

for our

education

system to be:

WORKING TOGETHER

COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER

SUPPORTING ONE

ANOTHER

Survey

participants

believe the

vision can be

achieved by:

VALUES

7 SACRED

TEACHINGS

EQUALITY

LANGUAGE

BASED COMMUNITY

INCLUSIVE

Guided by:

Common thoughts on

First Nation Control

of First Nations

Education from Survey Participants

Equality

Balanced Curriculum

Quality

109

102

36

44

3 2

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Funtions Roles & Responsibilities

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

DO NOT KNOW DO KNOW DID NOT INDICATE

Survey participants suggest the Education

Committee should be transparent (post

minutes/motions), provide literature/best

practices reviews, educated and

knowledgeable, advocate and vocal, show

initiative and be active and visible.

63

68

5

YES

NO

DID NOT

INDICATE

Does Sagamok

Education

Department

effectively

communicate its`

programs and

services?

STRENGTHS of Sagamok Education Department

HELPFUL

DEDICATED

SUPPORTIVE

AWARE OF COMMUNITY

NEEDS

PARTNERSHIPS

TEAM WORK

COMMITTED

GOOD COMMUNICATION

KNOWLEDGEABLE

GUIDING

CARING

ENGAGING

WELL ORGANIZED

INVOLVED

PRODUCTIVE

WEAKNESSES of Sagamok Education Department

FUNDING

COMMUNICATION

CONFIDENTIALITY

AVAILABILITY

UNFRIENDLY

LACK OF RESOURCE

SUPPORT

ENCOURAGEMENT

LOCATION AND

ENVIRONMENT

NOT VISIBLE

84 survey participants answered yes to being in favour of Education being governed by either a code or a law, but are unaware of

what a code or law is. Based on the responses more information is needed for

community members to make an informed decision.

93 survey participants answered yes to being

in favour of Education being governed by

either a board or authority, but are unaware

of what a board or authority is. Based on the

responses more information is needed to

make an informed decision.

Recommendations for the Education system to

be EFFECTIVE

PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

IMPLEMENT ANISHNAABEMOWIN AND CULTURE CONSISTENTLY

TRANSITION PLANNING –CAREER PLANNING

COMMUNICATION – INFORM MEMBERS OF PROGRAMS & SERVICES

ENERGETIC STAFF –ENGAGING AND CREATIVE

EQUITABLE – QUALITY RESOURCES, FUNDING, CURRICULUM

INCLUSIVE - SPECIAL EDUCATION

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

UTILIZE COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE KEEPERS

VISIBLE

ANISHNAABEMOWIN

Debewin Dabaadendiziwin

Gwayakaadiziwin Aakode’ewin

Minaadenamowin Zaagiidwin

Nibwaakaawin

ANISHNAABEMOWIN

140 survey participants feel that Anishnaabemowin

is important

56 survey participants answered yes that they have

felt discouraged in learning or speaking the

language because they have either

mispronounced and were laughed at, had difficulty

learning and just not enough time to learn.

Survey participants suggest how Education can

help improve Anishnaabemowin revitalization by:

Offering more workshops,

programs in the evening,

having a flexible schedule

Providing additional

programming possibly a

certificate program

Utilizing the community

language keepers in

daycare and school settings

Providing audio accessibility

(CD’s)

Online support

Hands on with other

community programs and

neighbouring First Nation

communities

Developing more

resources

Promoting the language

by speaking more

Is learning Anishnaabemowin in daycare and

schools important to you?

126

16

6

YES NO DID NOT INDICATE

IMMERSION

104

33

11

YES NO DID NOT INDICATE

“Ojibwe should be used all the way

through school.”

“So long as fluent speakers & resources

ae in place to maintain it – focus on the

oral component not so much the written

or reading.”

“Absolutely – Immersion programs at all

levels would allow our

Anishnaabemowin to become our first

language again.”

What % of Anishnaabemowin should be used for

Grades 4 - 8?

34

50

35

19

8

Grades 4 – 8

25% 50% 75% 100% DID NOT INDICATE

“Should be a balance between both

English and Anishnaabemowin.”

“It is during this time period when kids

are gaining a greater sense of self, so it

would be important to integrate

language into all different subjects

during the day.”

Suggestions to improve Anishnaabemowin at

Shki Waase Aaban Binoojiinh Gamik miinwaa

Biidaaban Kinoomaagegamik

Parents need to learn it also

at home for it to be more

effective

Regular training for staff

Create resources and

teaching aids (CD’s, Online

apps, post posters

throughout school, tag and

label objects

Have more fluent speakers

bring in our Elders

Make it community wide -

incentives

Speakers shouldn’t quickly

give up and switch to

English when students don’t

understand

Suggestions to improve Anishnaabemowin

programming in the provincial school system

Offer credit courses

Have it mandatory

Look for elders that know

the language

Have teachers with actual

knowledge to teach it

properly

Partner with Rainbow

District School Board

Lobby for more

Anishnaabemowin

programs off reserve

Consistent dialect of the

language, a constant

curriculum across the

board

Share resources, write the

curriculum together, use

the same dialect

Anishnaabemowin speakers to assist in the

school

133

710

Yes No Did Not Indicate

“It is important to include the Elders.”

“Elders are the best resources. They are leaving us. They can make learning fun.”

“As high school students we need more native teachers. More Anishnaabemowin everything.”

Importance of Anishnaabemowin

programming for future generations

136

67

Yes No Did Not Indicate

“Of course, without it our

language will die.”

“Our language is our culture.”

“If we don’t make a strong shift

to change, we die as a people.”

“Without it, what have you got?

Our students must assert their identity pride in

culture/language. They will go

far in serving Sagamok 100%

better.”

Our Culture is…

• History of Sagamok and Storytelling, Land stewardship

• Seven Sacred Teachings

• Sacred Fire, Ceremonies, Rites of Passage

• Hand drum, songs and regalia

• Medicine teachings

• Anishnaabemowin

• Clan system, traditional governance & treaty

• Harvesting, Hunting & Fishing

• Crafts, art forms

Is Anishnaabe culture and traditions important?

127

8

14

Yes No Did Not Indicate

“Yes, we are slowly losing our cultures and traditions.”

“It’s who we are as a people.”

Is learning Anishnaabe culture and traditions in

our schools important?

126

11

11

Yes No Did Not Indicate “But they are not solely responsible it is parent/family first community provide opportunities to support learning.”

“Some parents may not know much abut culture and traditions.”

“It’s very important.”

Knowledge keepers and cultural artisans to

assist in our schools

“Our knowledge keepers

hold valuable life lessons

such as our quilters,

beaders, hunters,

fishermen/women.”

116

20

14

Yes No Did Not Indicate

Have you ever felt discouraged learning your

culture?

“Sometimes, everything

you hear is negative be

it stereotypes or

decline in speakers,

dancers, etc. It can be

hard to access your

culture."

39

102

9

Yes No Did Not Indicate

Does Sagamok Education have a role in your

learning and understanding of the culture?

94

36

16

Yes No Did Not Indicate

“Should be at home as well.”

“Not sure, not really. I feel that it

shouldn’t be forced on people –

Feel that it should be the parent’s

responsibility to start but as the student gets older they should have

a say whether or not they want to

learn it.”

“Plays a role but not all. Most of the responsibilities is mine. Education

help by bringing or making it

available to the community.”

Do you support the implementation of a

cultural/language curriculum at Shki Waase

Aaban Binoojiinh Gamik miinwaa Biidaaban

Kinoomaagegamik?

123

15

11

Yes No Did Not Indicate

Shki Waase Aaban Binoojiinh Gamik and Biidaaban

Kinoomaagegamik to include spiritual aspects of our

culture into the curriculum

118

13

18

Yes No Did Not Indicate

Other suggested cultural

teachings and activities

Leather work, crafts, art forms,

games

Drum making, songs, dancing,

regalia

Food

Medicines

Bwaajigewin (dreaming),

Fasting

Water

Number of Survey participants who are in favour of

specific cultural programming

6557

65

84

6574

85

67

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Recommendations to support a strong culture

and language program

Promote throughout the

community

Make it fun, engaging

Use the community

Balance curriculum

Inclusive with parents and

elders

Role Models, Elders

History and language

Land based

Consistency

Balanced

Connection

114 Survey participants believe that a

culture/language program will support

community member’s future success at the

secondary and post-secondary school

levels.

SUCCESSFUL PRIDE IDENTITYBELONGING CONNECTION

WELL-BEING BALANCED STRONG

Final Thoughts

This survey provided an opportunity for community members to

express their ideas, opinion, concerns, and aspirations for Sagamok

Anishnawbek Education system.

Due to the low number of participants we will use the survey results

thus far as the preliminary stage and recommend that we continue

to follow up with community members in our discussions by hosting

a number of community forums or discussion panels/focus groups

and possible edit the survey to conduct one-on-one interviews and

go door-to-door to get a holistic view and input from community

members.

Based on this survey, it is apparent that Education needs to

strengthen its’ attempts to communicate with on and off reserve

members more assertively and effectively.

Miigwetch