'We want to be heard': Northern Sask. students protest loss of extracurriculars

Students in Cumberland House Cree Nation held a rally on April 10 to bring awareness to how the dispute between teachers and the provincial government has been affecting them.

The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation (STF) and the provincial government have been at a bargaining impasse on a new teachers' contract for months. The main sticking point is whether issues of class size and complexity should be included in the contract. Teachers say they should, while the province is adamant those things should be dealt with by school divisions.

This week, teachers provincewide started work-to-rule job action, meaning they're not volunteering their time for lunchtime or recess supervision, or to facilitate any extracurricular activities.

Raven Chaboyer organized a student protest in Cumberland House, Sask. (Submitted by Raven Chaboyer)

Raven Chaboyer, a Grade 11 student at Ministik Community School in Cumberland House, said they have been without extracurricular activities for a month and that extras like sports have been removed from the daily agenda.

"Extracurricular was basically all there really was," she said. "Now, without the extracurriculars, kids are staying home, they aren't running around as much as they used to."

A student at Ministik community school in Cumberland House Cree nation protesting. (Submitted by Raven Chaboyer)

Chaboyer said the community has a basketball court and a football field where youth used to go meet and play.

The school would allow the youth to borrow basketballs and footballs, but since the job action kids haven't been able to get that sports equipment.

"Our school has always been a very athletic school," she said.

Students also held signs calling for more money for their school. (Submitted by Raven Chaboyer)

Chaboyer said some students use school and sports as a way to escape from their home life, and feel hopeless without the extracurricular activities.

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"I'm hoping that they see that we are serious about this and that we want change," she said. "We want to be noticed, we want to be heard, and we want our [extra]curricular's back."

Chaboyer said she feels that voices from the north often go unheard.

"I figured if I was able to even make one person listen, that would be enough for me."

A student at Ministik community school in Cumberland House Cree nation protesting to bring awareness of what students of the north are dealing with. (Submitted by Raven Chaboyer)

An independent school division 

Timothy Biggins, vice-principal of Chief Napew Memorial School in Big Island Cree nation, said he is thankful his school operates independently.

Chief Napew's teachers are not part of the STF. Because of this, they are still offering extracurricular activities, sports and recreational events for students.

"The school is kind of the hub for those," said Biggins.

He said extracurricular activities are important to students in northern communities, because there's not much for young people to do outside of school hours.

"It's that physical outlet that allows them to have good sleep, to get good routines, to have the discipline that's required for sports and the chance to explore outside of the community which often sports leads to."

The Norther Lights School Division oversees schools in 17 communities throughout Saskatchewan's north. (Submitted by Raven Chaboyer)

Biggins said if his students did not have access to extra activities and sports, it would be catastrophic.

"You would see youth enrolment in school decline. You would see the mental health of our students decline," he said. "When students have sports they learn to work as a team, and it builds self-esteem and gives youth the confidence they need."