Background

The First Nations Schools Cooperative Education program provides First Nations youth with opportunities to experience various occupations and career paths through job tours, job shadowing and work experience placements. The program is unique in that it brings industries, schools, and communities together to create a relevant learning environment for students involving First Nations Elders, teachers and families. On the job training combined with curriculum written from a First Nations perspective provides students with employability skills to make appropriate career decisions. The primary goal of the First Nations Schools Cooperative Education program is to ease the transition from school to the world of work.

Partnerships

The program is administered through the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations - Education and Training Secretariat and is funded by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

Fifteen First Nations from nine Tribal Councils and two independent partners with public and private businesses from neighboring communities provide work experiences for First Nations youth.

Participants

Students in grades seven to twelve are able to participate in the program at the following First Nations sites:

Se-se-wa-hum	Big River First Nation
Kawacatoose Education Complex	Kawacatoose First Nation
Ahtahkakoop	Ahtahkakoop First Nation
Bernard Constant	James Smith First Nation
Eagleview Comprehensive	Onion Lake First Nation
Chief Poundmaker	Poundmaker First Nation
Chief Little Pine	Little Pine First Nation
Cowessess Community Educ. Complex	Cowessess First Nation
St. Phillip's	Keeseekoose First Nation
Nibwagwiagamig Kinistin	Kinistin First Nation
White Bear Education Complex	White Bear First Nation
Peepeekisis Pesakastew	Peepeekisis First Nation
Senator Miles Venne	Lac La Ronge First Nation
Pelican Lake	Pelican Lake First Nation
Peeyasiw - Awasis	Thunderchild First Nation

Program Description

The First Nations Cooperative Education program is for students at First Nations Schools in grade seven to twelve. This program combines in-class learning with industry based training.

The fifteen Cooperative Education school sites were selected on the basis of proximity to a major centre, thus allowing for a diversity of student opportunities and job placement preference. Some of the sites have created innovative work projects within the schools or community to accommodate their student numbers.

Aims and Goals

The Cooperative Education program facilitates the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations goal to provide First Nation education systems with the necessary means to develop and enhance the education and employment development skills and experience of First Nations youth.

The objectives of the program are as follows:

• to increase the number of Cooperative Education programs in schools on reserve;
• to provide opportunities for students in grades seven to twelve to combine school based learning with work place/community experience;
• Programs are designed locally to reflect individual community circumstances and requirements;
• to increase the rate of high school graduation and employment among First Nations youth;
• to facilitate the transition from school to work;
• to foster partnerships between schools and public and private sector employers for Cooperative Education work experience placements;
• to successfully maintain the fifteen established Cooperative Education program sites within the region.

The overall design of the First Nations Cooperative Education strategy is to provide First Nations youth with career related opportunities to assist successful entry into the labour force.

Curriculum

The First Nations Schools Cooperative Education program implements the First Nations School to Work (STW) curriculum developed by the FSIN Education and Training Secretariat. The STW curriculum for grades nine to twelve enables students to become familiar with the workplace and allows employers to participate in education. The curriculum requires 50 hours of in classroom instruction and 50 hours of work placement.

Principals, teachers, and local employers show very strong support for the program. The experiences and skills gained throughout the Cooperative Education program builds positive self-esteem in youth, increases school attendance and enhances student self confidence.

Holistic education is a priority within First Nations schools, therefore the Cooperative Education program is adaptable for each individual community's circumstances and allows for the inclusion of community Elders into the program. This provides the program with an essence of First Nations traditional teachings within the school system.

In conclusion, the program continues to be successful because of the commitment of the team members involved at the First Nations Schools Cooperative Education sites who are the front line workers and are dedicated to the improvement of education for First Nations students.

Co-operative Education Students
Here are quotes from some students….

"The Cooperative Education Program has encouraged me to look at possible careers. The training needed to get the career of your choice. The work experience has given me the opportunity to develop skills used in the workplace, to observe and interact with the professionals teaching. I felt a real sense of accomplishment for myself."

"Since I started this course, all sorts of miraculous things have started happening to me. I now have better attendance; whereas in other I would drop out before the school was even close to ending. Now I come to school 95% of the time. My marks have also improved a lot. I now have confidence in myself that whatever it is I set to do I get it done (i.e. work placements). I am also proud of being a Co-op Ed Student..."