Summer Youth Land and Governance Education Program Approved for Accreditation
In another first for the STSA, we are happy to announce that the S’í:wes te S’ólh Téméxw (Teachings of Our Land) Summer Youth Land and Governance education program has been approved for four (4) elective credits at the Grade 12 level by the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care. These newly approved credits may also be used to satisfy the Indigenous Focused Graduation Requirement.
This accreditation will be retroactive for the two cohorts of youth that were involved over the past two years and reflects the hard work of our amazing education team and Collaborative Stewardship Forum (CSF) project teams. Work on this curriculum began in the Fall of 2022, after the education team received a directive from STSA Leadership to create a Stó:lō-led program that could be made available to Youth from STSA communities.
So far, 50 students have completed the five-week program, and the next cohort will be offered to 25 Youth (ages 16-21), who are from STSA Member First Nations.
“The S’í:wes te S’ólh Téméxw course aims to support the revitalization of cultural identity among Stó:lō youth through teaching and learning about respectful land and resource use, land stewardship, and governance”, according to project staff, “It is important for BC Ministry Education and Child Care to recognize STSA’s development and delivery of a course that aligns with BC First Peoples. It was intended to be created through Stó:lō lens and worldview for Stó:lō learners”.
Minister of Education and Child Care Lisa Beare also shared her congratulations to the STSA on the launch of the new program, “I am deeply honoured to recognize the S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance for developing their first language and cultural program, now available for high school credit in British Columbia. This historic work not only strengthens Indigenous language and cultural learning but gives Nations an opportunity to offer a larger understanding of their perspectives, cultures, and histories. Thank you for doing this important work”.
New sessions of the course will be open for registration in June of 2025. Please contact [email protected] for more info or to register.
To view the entire bulletin, please download the PDF below.
