As a new school year starts on Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation, the benefits of joining the Manitoba First Nations School System (MFNSS) are becoming easy to see. The most visible improvement for staff and students is the new IT infrastructure, computers, and access to software that will undoubtedly help them on their education journey. Kiya Gedion is the Resource Centre’s Information Technology manager and had the privilege of leading the team of specialized technicians who installed new computers and IT systems in Kinonjeoshtegon’s Lawrence Sinclair Memorial School.
“My job is to lead a team of highly specialized IT personnel to deploy and make sure the IT infrastructure for MFNSS schools is running properly,” Gedion says.
“When it comes to bringing Kinonjeoshtegon onboard, they really did not have anything. We’ve now outfitted them with the latest technology in the computers. They now have all the software that they need, and all the security that comes with administering and maintaining such infrastructure. We basically provided them the white glove treatment, so that they really do not need to worry about technology. We are monitoring it and maintaining it, and we’ll give them updates on a quarterly basis as to the state of their new IT infrastructure.”
Gedion adds that the system installed and the maintenance that comes with it are a great improvement over what was there before. By giving the school new equipment, Gedion knows that improved IT infrastructure will make the teachers’ jobs easier and allow them access to new educational tools, thereby improving the learning experience for their First Nations students.
“My job is very fulfilling. It is kind of groundbreaking in a sense as we are providing standardization. We are also providing cost savings to schools because we can purchase equipment as a large block, tapping into economies of scale, allowing smaller schools to pool resources so they can access larger benefits,” Gedion says.
The next step in the process will be training for the school’s administrators and teachers on the new equipment and software by the Resource Centre’s Digital Learning Environment (DLE) unit.
From Gedion’s perspective, expanding a school’s access to the internet opens up options and possibilities for future growth, not just for the teachers, but the students as well.
“This is a link to the world, basically. We’re giving some of these kids access to the internet that they’ve never had and that just opens up their possibilities. For the teachers, it’s access to different software that will make their lives easier. For the youth, they can now access things like the Wapaskwa Virtual Collegiate, which can offer them classes that they might never have been offered. Now, advanced students can access high-level math or physics or any other of those other high-level subjects that make it really hard to get a specialized teacher to teach in small communities.”
The new computers and access to better communication will also help attract and retain educators. Gedion says that teachers who may miss family will now be able to reach out using the improved internet connection and IT infrastructure, thereby reducing the impact of homesickness.
WHY JOIN MFNSS?
Adeline Travers, principal of Lawrence Sinclair Memorial School in Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation, says that teacher retention is one of the primary reasons she wanted the First Nation to join MFNSS. She says that when the school was independent, it was hard to maintain competitive salaries for teaching staff.
“We’ve lost a few good teachers because of salary scales. So, for the past few years I’ve been on a quest to convince Chief and Council to sign up with MFNSS,” Travers says.
She adds that at first, she was against signing up to be a part of MFNSS, but as she learned more about the School System and what it offered, she changed her mind. One thing that changed her mind was access to MFNSS policies. Strong policies and procedures are crucial to the proper running of a school. Independent schools must make these far-reaching rules all by themselves, which can take years to develop. Before joining MFNSS, Kinonjeoshtegon’s school came under the policies of the Band, which didn’t always fit the challenges and needs of the education institution or its staff. With a lot of experience supporting and running First Nations schools, the Resource Centre and MFNSS have collected best practices and policies that schools can enact almost immediately and use them to support their staff and define the roles needed for the effective delivery of education.
Principal Travers says when she saw the new computer lab, she was very happy. “When they were done, I went in there, and everything is just top-of-the-line. And with all these new programs, like CONNECT coming into our schools, I know our teachers will appreciate the access to these new teaching tools and resources. And if we have problems or issues with the new systems, we know that IT support is just a phone call away.”
Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation joined MFNSS on November 22, 2023, meaning the 2024–2025 school year will be the first school year they receive the full slate of supports and resources that the School System offers.
Principal Travers says that, ultimately, it is all about the students and ensuring that they not only have the skills and abilities to compete in today’s world but are also given the option of reinvigorating their First Nation language and culture.
“I can’t wait to get started next week when the school opens. Parents are excited in the community that we’re now under the School System. I know we have the backing of a lot of parents in the community. And really, it’s all about the students and giving them the education and skills they need to make a good life. I often tell senior students, the ones about to graduate, your parents, Chief and Council, and the school can build a good nest for you to grow up and learn in, but it is up to you to spread your wings and begin to fly.”
