Hello, my name is Debbie Allen. I am of Cherokee ancestry through my maternal grandfather and Middle Eastern ancestry through my maternal grandmother as well as some European ancestry. This will be my second year working for School District 71. I am looking forward to working with students and staff and incorporating cultural knowledge and artistic projects into their days.
As Indigenous Support Workers, some of the services we provide include academic support, individually or as a small group, support and advocacy, assistance with cultural resources, Indigenous cultural awareness and inclusion. There will be opportunities to join cultural events/field trips as well as promoting leadership skills. To receive support, Indigenous ancestry is determined on a voluntary basis through self-identification. This includes First nations (Status or Non-Status), Metis or Inuit Ancestry.
“Our vision is for Indigenous students is to have a balance between academic performance and Indigenous culture and identity that will foster the value of lifelong learning.”
