-This is a land-based program whenever possible, so students should expect to be outdoors and active.

-Students receive English First Peoples 10, 11, or 12; Careers 10, 11, or 12; Social Studies 10, Biology 11, or Biology 12; Contemporary Indigenous Studies 12; or BC First Peoples 12; Indigenous Leadership 10, 11, or 12, Science 10.

- If students take all 3 years, they receive all of the credits above.

- This is a full-day program; every other day all year.

-If there is a waitlist, students will be selected based on an interview and desire to be a part of community, Indigenous culture, and leadership.

- If students would only like to take some of the courses, they should enroll in these separately, outside the program.

The Indigenous Learning Community is a full day 16 credit program, that runs full year on alternating days, where learning will be supported in a decolonized classroom that uses Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being.  Students can take this program for all 3 years if they choose.  Learning will be shared between in-class learning, and learning on and from the land, learning from Elders and Knowledge Keepers, with the goal being to be on the land as much as possible.  Students must be prepared to be outdoors and physically active.  Field Studies around the southern part of the province are included in this program.  This course is open to all students of Rutland Senior Secondary School, with preference being given to students with Indigenous heritage.

To participate in the Academy, students must take both courses—English First Peoples and Aboriginal Leadership. 

INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP INTRO/ADVANCED 10/11/12

YCPA-0B-4S / YCPA-1B-4S / YCPA-2B-4S 

Credits: 4

Aboriginal Leadership provides youth with leadership experience in and out of school by providing local and global citizenship opportunities. This course emphasizes understanding of First Nations culture, history and language and development of well-rounded individuals with a sense of belonging and spiritual understanding to pursue ambitions in life that enhance cultural understanding and community connections. The learning outcomes for this course align with BAA Leadership 12. 

ENGLISH 11 FIRST PEOPLES

MEPSS11-4S-BC

Credits: 4

English 11 First Peoples continues the study of language and literature and builds upon those skills learned in English 10 First Peoples. English 11 First Peoples is intended for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students. It represents an invitation to all learners to explore and discover First Peoples world views through the study of literary, informational and media text with local, Canadian and international First Peoples content. English 11 First Peoples provides opportunities for all students to engage with First Peoples creative expression and enter the worlds of First Peoples provincially, nationally, and internationally. This course focuses on the experiences, values, beliefs, and lived realities of First Peoples as evidenced in various forms of text—including oral story, speech, poetry, dramatic work, dance, song, film, and prose (nonfiction and fiction). English 11 First Peoples is the academic equivalent of English 11. Students will develop the English language and literacy skills and capacities they must have in order to meet British Columbia’s graduation requirements. 

ENGLISH 12 FIRST PEOPLES

MENFP12-4S

Credits: 4

English 12 First Peoples is an academic alternative English 12 course that is based on the study of literature that represents authentic First Peoples voices. Such text includes oral, visual, and film texts as well as written works. The course is designed to appeal to students who are interested in gaining a background in First Peoples world views as well as an understanding of the interaction between First Peoples and European cultures. It takes a thematic approach to First Peoples literature and addresses a variety of topics important to First Peoples. As an English 12 equivalent, English 12 First Peoples also focuses on the practice and improvement of students’ written and oral communication skills. Furthermore, all English 12 First Peoples students are required to write the provincial examination which is worth 40% of their final grade. 

COMPOSITION 10 / ENGLISH FIRST PEOPLES 10 EFP: LITERARY STUDIES AND NEW MEDIA

 MCMPS10-2T 

Credits: 4 

Students will delve deeply into First Peoples’ oral and written literature in a range of media to explore various themes, authors and topics. 

EFP: LITERARY STUDIES AND ORAL LANGUAGE

MEFLS10-2T-OL 

Credits: 4 

English First Peoples (EFP) will combine aspects of the EFP Literary Studies and EFP Spoken Language Curricula exploring First Peoples’ traditional and contemporary literature and oral texts in a variety of contexts, genres and media. 

INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY SOCIAL STUDIES 10 MSS—10-4S

Indigenous Community Socials 10 covers key areas of Canada and the world, from 1919 to the present, from an indigenous perspective. Areas of study include: Political institutions, First Peoples governance. Changing conceptions of identity in Canada. Discriminatory policies and injustices in Canada and the world, such as the Head Tax, the Komagata Maru incident, residential schools, and internments camps. International conflicts and cooperation, including Canada’s role and participation in World War Two, as well as Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. We will develop our Curricular Competencies of Significance, Evidence, Perspective, Continuity & Change, Cause & Consequence, and Ethical Judgement through inquiry. These skills will be the foundation for future courses in Social Studies and beyond. 

INDIGENOUS LEARNING COMMUNITY: CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS STUDIES 12 MINST12-4S      

Contemporary Indigenous Studies 12 focuses on the resilience, survival, community building and economic development of Indigenous peoples in the face of colonialism.  This course provides an opportunity for students to study and better understand: varied Indigenous identities and worldviews, the importance of family, culture and connection to the land, past and present relationships with governments in Canada and around the world, as well as restoring balance through truth, healing and reconciliation. This course satisfies the Social Studies requirement at the Grade 12 level.

INDIGENOUS LEARNING COMMUNITY: SCIENCE 10

This is the last Junior Science course to complete the survey of four major branches of science: Biology (genetics), Chemistry (atomic structure and chemical reactions), Physics (energy transformations), and Earth & Space Science (formation of the universe). This course will provide opportunities, within the context of the Indigenous Learning Community and a land-based approach, to develop Science curricular skills such as questioning and predicting, processing and analyzing data and information, and communicating through different mediums. The course will include two inquiry-based projects to be completed throughout the three seasons that the course will take place in. For detailed information on the new curriculum, please see: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/science/10/core

INDIGENOUS LEARNING COMMUNITY: LIFE SCIENCE 11 (BIOLOGY 11) 

Prerequisite: Science 10.   

Life Sciences 11 satisfies the grade 11 science graduation requirements. This course is an academic elective and a prerequisite for Anatomy and Physiology 12. Life Sciences 11 is a general overview of life! This course explores the following topics: characteristics of living things, process of evolution, taxonomy and an overview of the three Domains of life (with a focus on microbiology, plant and animal biology.) We will be investigating the concepts within the context of the Indigenous Learning Community and a land-based approach that explores both Eurocentric and Traditional perspectives around plants, animals, and all our ancestors. This is a land/activity-based course with an emphasis on inquiry learning and will require the completion of two inquiry-based projects throughout the three seasons of the course. For detailed information on the curriculum please see: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/science/11/life-sciences

INDIGENOUS LEARNING COMMUNITY: ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 12 (BIOLOGY 12)

Anatomy and Physiology 12 is a rigorous course designed for science students wishing to continue in science studies at the post-secondary level in the health and medical fields. The course is focused on three main areas: biochemistry, cell processes and human anatomy and physiology. The content is organized conceptually and includes knowledge in the following areas: homeostasis, DNA/gene expression, and organ systems. This is a land/activity-based course with an emphasis on inquiry learning and will require the completion of two inquiry-based projects throughout the three seasons of the course. For detailed information on the curriculum please see: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/science/12/anatomy-and-physiology