Sturgeon Lake teacher receives Prime Minister’s Award of Excellence

“When we talk about land-based it’s not just another outdoor education program; it really recognizes the connection that Indigenous people have with the land,” she explained.

A recent post from McCallum’s successful Facebook group Land-Based Education K – 12 Plains and Woodland Cree. (Facebook)

In addition to learing about cultural identity and language, McCallum explained students learn about their local environment such as the native species of plants and fish.

“In today’s generation, we are actually a really lazy generation. We do drive-thru, our food gets delivered, we don’t even go to the post office anymore and technology has taken over the lives of our children sadly,” she said.

Noting the positive feedback she has received from parents and other community members, McCallum explained land-based education gives students the opportunity to be outdoors and improve their mental well being. She further noted many of the kids she has taught have taken on new interests such as fishing, hunting, hiking or canoeing.

“The kids will beg me to take them on a hike because it’s not just a hike; we’re learning and I do mini lessons along the way,” she said. “When they see me coming into their classroom they are like ‘yay! where are you taking us today?'”

In addition to the work she has done at the school, McCallum also created a Facebook group page called Land-Based Education K – 12 Plains & Woodland Cree.

“Just this month alone I had over a million hits and over 10,000 followers,” she said.

Tyrone MacPherson, director of education at Sturgeon Lake, was the person who nominated McCallum for the national award. He described McCallum as a game changer for the community, adding since she took the position at the school, there has been some very positive growth in the students.

“It has changed the culture of the school. It has really kind of helped re-define what Sturgeon Lake is all about,” he said.

MacPherson explained the school has always tried to embrace language, culture and traditional ways, but added the land-based approach is really the vehicle making things happen.

“She lives this. This is who she is”, he said, adding the school has also had visitors from other First Nations that run schools from across the province, who want to come and see what McCallum is doing and learn from her.

“She understands that moral imperative that as a teacher she serves all children regardless of what school they go to, so she’s a great ambassador for us,” MacPherson said.

The Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence have recognized exceptional elementary and secondary school teachers in all disciplines since 1994, with over 1,700 teachers honoured to date.

The other 2022 recipients from Saskatchewan are Samantha Adam, a teacher at Father Gamache Memorial School in Fond-Du-Lac; and Gilbert Will, a teacher at Cornwall Alternative School in Regina.

Adam, who is fluent in both Dene and English, has brought the Dene language and culture into her classroom. Her current role is the Literacy Catalyst at the Grade 6-9 level.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Sturgeon Lake teacher receives Prime Minister’s Award of Excellence

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