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New partnership to support Indigenous students in La Ronge and La Loche

Aug 4, 2020 | 5:01 PM

The Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied research (GDI) has partnered up with United Way of Saskatoon and Area as well as the Government of Canada to support northern Saskatchewan Indigenous students.

According to a media release, GDI has received $50,000 to support Indigenous students in La Ronge and La Loche through the COVID-19 Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF).

“The impact of COVID-19 has been substantial to all of our students and communities, especially those in northern Saskatchewan,” Geordy McCaffery, GDI’s executive director, said. “GDI’s priority right now is the health and safety of our students as we navigate through this pandemic. Thanks to the generous partnership with United Way of Saskatoon and Area, we can equip our northern learning centres and students with everything they need to learn safely and remotely.”

The support will help GDI’s Learning Centres in both La Ronge and La Loche which serve up to 275 Métis and First Nations students.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how GDI educated its students including part time distance learning. The priority of the funds is to make sure the quality of the education does not change through remote classes as well as provide a safe learning environment.

As stated in the release the supports include:

  • New smart technology for classrooms that will improve virtual learning content and permit wireless connections to devices for enhanced remote accessibility.
  • Immediate access to laptops and portable printers.
  • Enhancements to health and sanitization equipment.

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow

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