The All Nations Program welcomed three new members to their staff. Robert Horton as All Nations coordinator, Vince Patton, and Shaun Mattner as teachers. Senior Zach Henry admitted to a bit of skepticism in regards to the sudden staff changes, but said that so far it had been fun.

Horton said he was drawn to the All Nations program because, “it’s a very unique opportunity to guide academic growth, as well as to help our younger generation to re-connect (and maintain that connection) to who we are and what makes us strong, well, and confident”.

Horton had been raised around his mother and grandmother, both of whom were Ojibwe language teachers and mentors for him. Along with this and a family of strong leaders, Horton has a very strong background in both activism and community gathering.

Most recently, Horton taught post-secondary education, specifically indigenous education. And before that he attended St. Cloud State University and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay.

According to Horton, the biggest problem he’s heard from students has been the lack of culture in the classroom.

In response to this, Horton said that he will try his best, “to bring in traditional teachings that have been shared with me into our language class. In fact, it’s a must because the depth and beauty of our language can’t be fully understood without the culture. I do my best to make sure our culture is always our lens when we bring the language to life.”

Along with his approach to conflicts and the increase of smudging and culture incorporation into the program, Horton also plans to “increase focus on knowledge revitalization in terms of our identities, languages, relationships to the land and our home territories, and understanding of our clan systems are essential to who we are as Indigenous people.” which Horton believes to be important building blocks for awareness and understanding “about our Nations, inherent and treaty rights, and igniting legacies of leadership”.

In regards to future conflicts Horton said that he will address the problem with “Gizhewaadiziwin, the Ojibwe word for kindness, compassion, and good-heartedness, along with confidence and humility because [I am] is new but capable.”

Along with Horton’s arrival two other teachers have joined the All Nations program. Those teachers are Vince Patton and Shaun Mattner.

Mattner choose South as a place of work because he lives in this community. Mattner is all new to the type of curriculum the All Nations Program calls for and while he isn’t necessarily scared about it he is certainly figuring it out. In order to incorporate the right type of curriculum into the course, Mattner is gearing his curriculum towards the Native American point of view, a logical choice for the All Nations Program.

If Mattner could make sure that his students got anything out of his course it would be a critical thinking, along with an advanced understanding of technology in order to avoid being duped or sucked in by social media.

The 2014-15 school year ushered in all new faces for the All Nations Program here at South High School. Despite the skepticism expressed by a few students, and this being an all new experience for some of the staff members both the students and staff are optimistic and hopeful for the coming school year.