Enhancement Agreement

The Education Enhancement Agreement between the W̱SÁNEĆ, other First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities in the Saanich School District and the Saanich School Board is designed to enhance the learning opportunities and successes for all Indigenous learners.

This Agreement operates within the notion of respecting the rights of Indigenous learners to ensure that they receive a quality education in the public school system and meaningful graduation that leads to future options. The intent of this Agreement is to increase Indigenous student success, ensure a collaborative partnership between the Saanich School District and W̱SÁNEĆ, other First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and support shared decision making in support of all Indigenous learners. All Saanich School District employees, W̱SÁNEĆ, other First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, students, families, and caregivers take responsibility for the achievement of all Indigenous learners. Additionally, this Agreement was developed to:

• Honour and support the history, culture, values, and language of the W̱SÁNEĆ people upon whose traditional territory Saanich School District operates; and to honour all other Indigenous peoples.
• To foster mutual respect, trust, and cooperation amongst all students attending Saanich schools.
• To achieve a sense of belonging and positive outcomes for all W̱SÁNEĆ, other First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students.
• To continuously improve achievement for W̱SÁNEĆ, other First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students.
• To address racism as it affects W̱SÁNEĆ, other First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students in the public education system.
• Align with the Saanich Schools Strategic Plan.

The W̱SÁNEĆ people have articulated the values of caring, sharing, trust, honesty and respect. The Saanich School District has articulated the values of compassion, fairness, honesty, respect, and responsibility. We all work together to provide students of Indigenous heritage with experiences that reflect their traditional values and the values of the School District. We all share the responsibility of providing a quality education for W̱SÁNEĆ, other First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students