Mtis educator sets up tent in classroom to share his grandparents' experience with students

A Mtiseducator in Saskatoonis finding the best way to connect students with the culture is to tell his family's story in a unique setting.

CortDogniez, who is theMtiseducation program leader for the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools division, has set up a prospector tent in his classroom atSt. Michael Community School.

"We lost our land and we were scattered," saidDogniez.

"After the Northwest Resistance, my family didn't stay inBatoche."

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Following the signing of treaties in the late 1800s, many Mtis people were displaced with no actual land or home to reside in. Teepees and prospector tents were the main residence for many.

Dogniezsaid prospector tents were what was available, so "that's what was used."

Take a tour inside a Mtis tent

7 years ago

Duration 1:27

A Mtis educator in Saskatoon is finding the best way to connect students with the culture is to tell his family's story in a unique setting.

A family photo

He got the idea to putthe tent up in his classroom from a photohe had of his grandfather sitting on his horse in front of the family tent while the family was on the move. Seeing the photo, he remembered his grandmother's stories about the experience and decided he needed to share them with his students.

"My grandma was Clara Dumont and my grandfather was LeoDelorme," saidDogniez.

"Whatever ideas come into my head that I think are going to excite kids and make that learning deeper, any time I can do that, I run with it."

Dogniez saidtreaty education in the curriculum provides a lot of knowledge about First Nations culture, but that leaves out a lot of Mtis history.

For Dogniez, as a Mtis person, it's important to provide his ancestors' history and insight about his culture to students.

The role of Mtis educator for the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools division was introduced in 2015 as a pilot project to incorporate more Mtis content into the curriculum.

'Mtisperspectives are often left behind'

"It's long overdue," said Russell Fayant, an instructor at the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program in Regina.

"What studies often tell us in terms of Aboriginal integration is that Mtis perspectives are often left behind. So to have a specific school that is explicitly teaching Mtis history, Mtis culture, I think helps to overcome the gap we've had over the past three years of Mtis culture not being taught in school."

The school has a painting a red river cart wheel created by artist Kim Moon, that is broken into different sections that represent a monthly theme.

The month of January is a time of celebration and the symbols on the painting are a fiddle and moccasins with musical notes.

Dogniezsaid he hopes the inclusion of Mtis education at St. Michael Community School is something that can help influence the rest of the school division.

"This job is about... helping teachers recognize that within the curriculum we can make meaningful, respectful connections to Mtis content and perspectives in a really good way, " he said.