Spencer has a rich and vibrant Aboriginal programs staffed through Vice- Principal John Lyall, Support teacher Huw Griffiths and Aboriginal support worker Dennis Warbrick. Spencer is a grade 7- 9 Middle School which enrolls approximately 620 students, 10% of which are of Aboriginal ancestry.  This population forms a diverse group, primarily off – reserve, non - status and Métis populations. 

Our school has strove to implement the Sooke Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement, signed April 2009, its four goals being:

1.     To increase Aboriginal students’ sense of place, belonging and caring in School District 62.

2.     To increase awareness and understanding of Aboriginal Ways of knowing for both Aboriginal & non – Aboriginal students.

3.     To increase knowledge of Aboriginal languages.

4.     To enhance the achievement of Aboriginal students from Kindergarten to grade 12 in academics as well as training for trades and life skills.

The All Nations room is the hub of our Aboriginal programs, Dennis opens the doors at 8am and creates a welcoming space through a safe place and warm food!  Activities in the All Nation room include art activities such as drum making and paddle painting through to catered monthly lunches, each with a guest speaker.  To date, we have had two monthly lunches, one with guest speaker Shirley Alphonse and another led by Vice Principal John Lyall on the SD 62 Aboriginal enhancement agreement.  Dennis and Rosie also led the group in a Bannock making workshop.

Field Trips

The All Nations room has organized relevant and fun field trips this year to

·               “Me to We” day in Vancouver Thursday October 13^th

·               Bright Futures Community Planning Tuesday October 25^th

·               Traditional fishing at Goldstream Park Tuesday November 8^th

In School Presentations

As well as organized and presented in school presentations on

·             Hoop Dance Ted Bishop presented a school wide presentation on Hoop dancing and the traditional teachings associated with the dance form.  Ted then presented a hoop dancing workshop for interested students

·             Inuit Storyteller Michael Kusugak presented to a group of forty Spencer Aboriginal students weaving traditional teachings with his personal experiences.

Aboriginal Awareness Exploratory

This is a third year grade 7 course, starting in September 2009.  Grade 7 students at Spencer Middle school are scheduled an exploratory block.  Spencer offers Aboriginal Awareness as one of the six exploratories offered, being one of the only schools in the province to have Aboriginal awareness as an exploratory topic.

The class is roughly 6 weeks in length, totally about 18 hours of instruction.  In this exploratory, our class:

• Learned of the term Aboriginal, which includes First Nations, Métis and Inuit,
• Learned of the diverse Aboriginal populations of BC,
• Learned of Aboriginal peoples in Canada,
• Were introduced to Aboriginal art and its components,
• Watched short films on Aboriginal oral histories,
• Learned about Aboriginal languages through First Voices software,
• Had fun!

Aboriginal Enhancement Schools Network

Spencer Middle school is a member of the Aboriginal Enhancement Schools Network’s inquiry project.  The primary objective of the inquiry was: how can we increase awareness and understanding of Aboriginal ways of knowing throughout Spencer Middle school.  It was the intention that Aboriginal curriculum and / or projects would be offered to as many Spencer students as possible.