Civil Municipal - May 2024

foundation for students wishing to continue in the Tiny Homes Program (THP) during grades 10 - 12. The THP is a pathway for students to learn practical skills by constructing tiny homes from start to finish. For the first house, the Lakehead district partnered with Smart Home Modular Canada, which provided engineered drawings, and Home Depot, which donated $75,000 in materials.“That is an investment partnership that pulls the entire community together,” states Pharand. The organization donates the completed tiny homes to First Nation communities, starting with the first one sent to Constance Lake. BUILDING KNOWLEDGE WITH THE INDIGENOUS EDUCATIONAL FRAMEWORK Incorporating Indigenous curriculum and perspectives within educational frameworks is critical when designing a more inclusive and representative environment. The approach is not only about raising the academic outcomes for youth facility that offers overnight programs for children.“It is on a small, beautiful lake with log cabins ringing it and each one accommodates a student group.” Children explore luscious green trails, a dock over glistening water, and uniquely designed classrooms focused on different activities, including science. With a remarkable safety record, the center practices direct learning designed to engage grades one through seven in fire lighting, outdoor cooking, and wood chopping.Adventures for high school students include canoeing, orienteering, snowshoeing, and skiing, all connected to the curriculum. Kendomang Zhagodenamonon (KZ) Lodge caters to ninth-grade students, offering a unique cultural and land-based learning blend. Pharand says, “Students receive the eight required credits through a cultural lens, engaging in activities such as being on a trap line, ice fishing, tanning hides, painting with artists, drumming, and participating in ceremonies.” Deeply rooted in community involvement, it sets the 205 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 05 LAKEHEAD DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD