Heather Latter
The Grade 7/8 class at Donald Young School in Emo was recognized for their “Martens Matter” project during the Rainy River District School Board’s regular monthly meeting there last night.
The class learned that the pine marten—a member of the weasel family—is in trouble.
“Logging practices have had a major effect on marten populations because they rely on old-growth forests for shelter and food,” the presentation noted.
“Clearing the forest leaves the animals homeless and hungry.
“Young martens [kits] are particularly vulnerable to predators,” it added. “To succeed, they need safe nests where enemies cannot reach them.”
The class travelled to Rainy River High School where, with help from the high school shop teacher and students, they constructed more than 20 pine marten nesting boxes made from donated rough lumber.
These boxes then were taken to Nestor Falls School, where staff, students, and parents placed them throughout the community.
The DYS students also were given the task of creating a T-shirt design that would make people more aware of the pine marten situation.
They had to research the problem and create a logo.
The winning logo read: “The pine martens need the forest and the forest needs you.”
Students transferred the logo onto T-shirts while they were at Rainy River High School using a silk screening process.
“The ‘Martens Matter’ project provided Donald Young School students with the opportunity to become more environmentally aware and involved–to be stewards for the environment, in addition to giving them the opportunity to experience learning at the secondary level,” the presentation noted.
“The challenge of environmental restoration reinforces the need for collaboration,” it stressed.
“Even though one person can make a difference, together we achieve more.”
Also at last night, Aboriginal Education Leader Brent Tookenay highlighted the success of the native language programs currently offered at five elementary schools–Mine Centre, Robert Moore, J.W. Walker, Crossroads, and Donald Young—and the Grade 9/10 Native Language at Fort Frances High School.
“There are a number of key initiatives that have helped the native language programming grow over the past six years,” Tookenay noted, adding the Native Language Professional Learning Community (PLC) has been an integral part of the growth as it has built capacity and consistency across the board.
He said the Seven Generations Education Institute has facilitated this PLC, with the Seven Generations language co-ordinator facilitating this valuable professional development.
Tookenay noted Mine Centre School also has led the way in the primary area with the native language immersion program.
“The team of teachers is supported through a partnership with Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation, with a member a cultural/language specialist, providing classroom support in the immersion program,” he explained.
“Various elders have also contributed to the program through classroom visits, workshops, and teacher support.”
Tookenay stressed a key initiative that started this year was the E-learning curriculum development, allowing the RRDSB to expand and offer native language instruction/courses to all schools.
In addition, the board’s involvement in the MERL (Modernize, Expand, Revitalize, Localize) Native Language Project is helping to bring the language to both students and communities through the use of technology.
“For both of these initiatives, technology is a key component,” Tookenay noted.
“However, the most important part of all the above initiatives is the valuable partnership with the various First Nation communities and the support of the elders, through their classroom visits, resources, and leadership,” he said.
“Native language helps our aboriginal students further develop an identity, build their self-esteem, and connect them with their rich histories and traditions,” he added.
“Without the language, there is no culture.”
