TREATY EDUCATION MAKES HEADWAY IN SASKATCHEWAN SCHOOLS

A year after new treaty education materials were provided to schools, more students are learning about the importance of treaties in the lives of Saskatchewan people. During an Education Week event at Saskatoon's Silverspring Elementary School, the results of the Treaty Education Survey were publicly released.

"The results of the survey provide a benchmark to measure our success at meeting government's commitment to have mandatory treaty education in all Saskatchewan schools," Deputy Premier and Education Minister Ken Krawetz said. "Treaty knowledge is important for students to better appreciate our province's past and present, and for our continued prosperity in the future. Learning about treaties also promotes cultural appreciation and understanding through teachings that respect and honour First Nations."

The survey was available to schools across the province and provides benchmark measures of student knowledge and understanding of treaties as well as teacher and administrator satisfaction with the resource materials. All of the province's school divisions and 16 First Nations schools participated in the online survey. The high participation rate in the survey provides a strong starting point to help inform future decision-making around resources and instruction related to treaty education.

The treaty resource materials that were distributed to all provincial and First Nations schools last year included A Treaty Resource Guide for Kindergarten to Grade 6, Treaty Essential Learnings: We are all Treaty People, and Grade 7-12 Teaching Treaties in the Classroom, Treaty Resource Kit. These materials provide teachers with information appropriate for all grade levels.

In the fall of 2007, the Ministry of Education declared treaty education mandatory in the Saskatchewan provincial school system from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

For more information about teaching treaties in the classroom, visit http://k-12treatyeducation.gov.sk.ca/.

For more information about Education Week in Saskatchewan, visit http://www.education.gov.sk.ca/edweek.

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For more information, contact:

Jacquie McLean
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5609
Email: jacquie.mclean@gov.sk.ca