ST. PAUL – The Aboriginal Head Start program in St. Paul marked its 30th anniversary on May 23, with staff and members of the community coming together at the Lions Park to celebrate the milestone.
Established in 1995, there are multiple Aboriginal Head Start programs throughout the country providing early childhood education for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children aged three to five.The program in St. Paul is located at University nuhelot'ine thaiyots'i nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills.
Kara Bergheim, the program coordinator, said focuses of the program include cultural and language education, school readiness, parental involvement, health promotion, as well as nutrition and social education. Also, "We focus a lot on land-based learning," she said.
Bergheim said it is an amazing milestone for the program to reach three decades of service. "It's amazing to remind the children about their history, submerse them in their culture . . . [and] give them a chance to be themselves," she said.
Registrations are now open for the upcoming school year.
The program serves up to 24 children and operates from September to June.
