Nbisiing Education Center

Aboriginal Resource Management

This course examines the issues of natural resources from a First Nation's perspective. Students will participate in ecosystem studies, witness logging practices in their local area and study fish and wildlife management practices of their local area. In addition, students will analyze how First Nation's treaty rights are interpreted and implemented by other First Nation's peoples across Canada and North America.

Student's participating in logging survey.

Student's making paddles as part of their logging workshop.

Aboriginal Studies

Nbisiing Secondary School believes in the inherent right of all Native peoples to discover, learn and appreciate the rich and diverse culture of all Native groups in Canada. Therefore, a number of Aboriginal Studies courses are offered throughout the school year for our students. A few of the courses are listed below.

Expressing Aboriginal Cultures

This course examines Aboriginal cultures in Canada through an exploration of art forms. Students will learn to identify Aboriginal art forms and describe relationships between the art forms and Aboriginal traditions, philosophy and culture.

Current Aboriginal Issues In Canada

This course focuses on existing and emerging issues of importance to Aboriginal peoples in Canada. Students will investigate issues related to identity, relationships among Aboriginal peoples and between Aboriginal peoples and other Canadians.

Aboriginal Beliefs, Values, And Aspirations

This course focuses on the beliefs, values and aspirations of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. Students will examine world views of Aboriginal peoples and the political, economic, cultural, and social challenges facing individuals and communities.

Co-operative Education

Co-operative education provides students with opportunities to explore careers, expand their skills and knowledge in the workplace while at the same time, earn high school credits while they work. What is involved in Co-op education

• Must be tied to an in-school course
• Can get two or four credits in one semester
• Participate in a 3 week Pre-employment session
• Participate in 1/2 day Integration sessions
• Complete assignments, logs and projects

What is involved in Pre-employment

• Self Development Skills
• Resume Writing
• Health and Safety Certification
• Employment Standards/Job Ethics
• First Aid/C.P.R. Certification
• Service Excellence Certification
• Communication Skills

Below are some photos of students who have successfully completed the Co-op Program here at Nbisiing Secondary School.

Aimee Goulais
Grade 12
Lab Technician Assistant
Near North Laboratories, North Bay

Leah McLeod
Grade 11
Radio Broadcasting
102.1 Fox Radio FM, North Bay

Literacy Program

Nbisiing Secondary School is proud to offer literacy programs for those students who need to strengthen reading and writing skills in English. This program allows the student to progress at his or her learning ability. This ensures that each student obtains the necessary individual learning environment for success in life.

Students will build on their previous language knowledge to gain literacy skills for everyday life. Eventually, students will begin to expand their reading and writing skills to analyze the world around them. Students will improve their language level through practical reading, classroom discussions and individual projects.

Advantages of this program include a full time teaching assistant, reducing the already low teacher-student ratio even lower. In addition, the literacy classroom is equipped with internet ready computers containing the latest in technology and software.

Ojibwe Language

Ojibwe language classes provide students with opportunities to develop their knowledge of their ancestral language. In addition, students will gain a greater understanding of Native philosophy, spirituality, and traditional values that will enhance their sense of Native identity and self-worth. Nbisiing Secondary School firmly believes that the retention of our language is vital to our survival as a proud nation. This underlying belief provides for a meaningful education for our children. Language expresses the uniqueness of the Nation's view of life.

Outdoor/Cultural Education

The intent of the Outdoor Education course is to provide a holistic view to academic excellence with emphasis on Aboriginal pride and tradition. The goals of the program are to teach the importance of cooperative learning, healthy active living, experiential learning and the achieving of life skills via transference.

The course will utilise wilderness adventure as a tool to build each student's self-confidence and self-reliance, while developing a sense of compassion, respect, and responsibility for one's self, others and the environment. To help students achieve these goals the course is organized into six areas of learning:

Wilderness Survival Skills (Fire building, outdoor cooking, wilderness navigation)
Traditional Methods of Travel (canoeing, snowshoeing)
Native Teachings and Values (Vision Quest, Seven Grandfather Teachings)
Merging of Tradition/Technology (GIS and traditional navigation methods)
Teamwork/Peer Leadership (trust initiatives, challenge by choice)
Healthy Active Living (physical fitness, awareness of mind/body/spirit)

To enable students to develop these areas of learning, they will be allowed to work together in a safe and caring environment. By safeguarding one another they will form bonds of mutual trust, create balance in their daily activities and formulate individual leadership skills.

The aim of the course is to teach the value of life-long learning and the benefits of personal and moral development. The students will attempt to realize their roles and responsibilities in problem solving and that only with the cooperation of all members of a group can this be better accomplished. The main ingredient to ignite the fire of experiential learning will be to have fun in a secure manner while accomplishing the talks at hand.

Visual Art

Our creative Visual Art program is a combination of studio work (drawing, painting, sculpture, design, and crafts), art history and appreciation. Students explore ideas, materials and processes in both a self-directed and teacher-directed manner. Experimentation is encouraged.

Art processes and student artistic efforts and products are respected and valued. Whenever possible, students have the opportunity to create outdoors, encouraging connections between Earth and themselves. Students explore both traditional First Nation art and non-traditional First Nation art; thus allowing for true personal artistic expression. Native symbolism is emphasized to develop an appreciation of the historical roots of artistic expression and its spiritual meaning and cultural influence on individuals and communities. Students are offered opportunities to explore and discover images that are meaningful to them on their path of life.