SSDEC Wins National Indigenous Education Award

Indspire awards Indigenous Organization Award to the Council

FORT SMITH, NT – The South Slave Divisional Education Council recently received one of the most prestigious awards an education body in Canada can win – the Indigenous Organization Award presented by Indspire, the largest funder of Indigenous education outside the federal government.

Presented in Toronto, ON, on November 4, the 2016 Guiding the Journey: Indigenous Educator Awards recognize the achievements of outstanding educators of Indigenous students. Winners are chosen based on innovative teaching practices, cultural teachings in the curriculum, and how they help Indigenous students reach their full potential.

“These educators are exemplary in their innovation and dedication to helping First Nation, Inuit, and Métis children and youth succeed,” said Roberta Jamieson, President and CEO of Indspire. “They are creating lasting change in the communities they serve and enriching the field of Indigenous education through their contributions.”

SSDEC Superintendent Curtis Brown said, “We are immensely proud of the work that has been done in the South Slave by our staff, DEAs, Council, students, parents and other community partners. Our collective focus on continuous improvement and innovation has had an impressive impact on student achievement in all our South Slave communities.”

The South Slave Divisional Education Council, along with educators, staff, students, and partners in education, have been recognized with over 70 local, territorial, and national awards since the Leadership for Literacy (L4L) initiative began in 2007. Many of these awards are directly related to the SSDEC’s commitment to improving literacy and strengthening endangered Aboriginal languages. The SSDEC has published over 280 books in 12 languages (11 of them Aboriginal languages); with the majority of the literature and resources in Cree, Chipewyan and Slavey, the languages spoken in the South Slave region.