ASD-N is committed to meeting Objective 6 in the provinces 10 Year Education Plan. As stated in the 10 Year Education Plan, only 7.8 % of educators in the province have received training on First Nation history, traditions and culture at the time of its publish. One of the ways ASD-N is addressing the need for more training is through the facilitation of the Kairos Blanket Exercise (KBE). The First Nation Education Team from ASD-N has completed multiple KBE’s across the district most recently on November 6th with members of the Integrated Service Delivery (ISD) team in Miramchi and November 10th with the staff of Miramchi Valley High School. We even had an opportunity to facilitate the exercise with grade 11 and 12 students from Dalhousie Regional High School on November 15th. This experiential exercise is a powerful teaching tool that explores the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples from contact to today. Participants are asked to imagine themselves as Indigenous peoples as they are randomly exposed to the true events that have taken place throughout the history of Canada from Lord Jeffrey Amherst and Charles Lawrence’s admission of knowingly trading smallpox infected blankets to Indigenous groups to the acceptance of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. At the conclusion of the script portion of the exercise the participants are given an opportunity debrief as a group through a talking/sharing circle facilitated by a local elder. To book a KBE at your school please consult the following link for the request form. http://asd-n.nbed.nb.ca/first-nations-education/document/kairos-blanket-...

On Wednesday October 18, 2017, Miramichi Valley High School raised a teepee in the courtyard outside the Cultural Room. This event introduced students to teepee teachings in an interactive way by constructing and dressing the teepee together. Selected students from grades 9-12 had the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and erect a teepee making memories they won’t soon forget. The school welcomed (p’jilasi) Mi’kmaq Elder Tulley Paul from Metepenagiag, Drug and Alcohol Counselor John Paul from Esgenoopetitj, Youth Worker Bobby Sylliboy from Esgenoopetitj, Youth Mentor Julian Augustine from Metepenagiag as well as people from district office demonstrating an act of reconciliation in action! This marks the third time, in as many years, that MVHS has erected a teepee celebrating Indigenous identity. Although this type of teepee was not a common dwelling for the Mi’kmaq people and is more associated with the Indigenous peoples of the Plains, Mi’kmaq people did use a similar structure called a wigwam (wikuom). You can learn more about this by following the link below. http://www.muiniskw.org/pgCulture1d.htm

October 4th has been desginated as a day for social change by the Native Women's Association of Canada. This movement is called Sisters in Spirit and is a day to honour, remember, and raise awareness of Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women and Girls in Canada. It also serves as a day to support families affected by loss of loved ones by providing a space for healing. With support from Cultural Transition Coordinator, Ashley Julian, students from Miramichi Valley High School held a silent vigil to honour the reported 1181 missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls in Canada. Aboriginal women represent 3% of Canada's population, yet are over represented as victims of violence. With awareness, perhaps violence will be reduced, and perhaps Aborignal women will feel safe again. Wela'lioq and thank you to all schools that participated in this movement!