Community
FEATURE RESIDENT
Kerry Peters by KRISTA TURCASSO through the School District’s ABED Program. In this role, Kerry works with students of Aboriginal Ancestry (students who self-identify as First Nation, Metis, or Inuit), providing support for them mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally in order to help them reach their full potential. Additionally, Kerry works with teachers to incorporate Aboriginal content into the curriculum.
Our family has been a part of École Isabelle Dicken Elementary School (EIDES) since our eldest started school in 2018. While it was evident the school fosters an inclusive environment, what was surprising was the integration of Indigenous education, beginning in Kindergarten. The girls regularly share the Ktunaxa stories and lessons they learn from Ms. Peters, and I’m grateful for the material that comes home with them. More often than not, it’s the first time I’ve been exposed to the story, language, lesson, or culture and while I find it fascinating, it also makes my heart full that to them it is just the norm.
Kerry was commuting from Elko to Cranbrook for her first two years in the Valley and was looking for a position closer to home. When she saw one listed in EIDES and Jaffray Elementary/Junior Secondary School, Kerry applied and got the job. “It was a great move. I have students from Kindergarten to Grade Ten and have always loved that broad age range,” she says. “I have over 80 Aboriginal Students on my case load between my two schools that have self-identified as having First Nation, Metis or Inuit ancestry. I had my first Inuit student identify this year in Fernie, that was exciting!”
Curious who this Ms. Peters is, and also keen to learn more about her role in the public school system, Kerry (Ms. Peters!) and I set a coffee (and hot chocolate) date and had a wonderful conversation. Originally from Sarnia, Ontario, a place Kerry considers her hometown, her ancestors were from Owen Sound. “I wasn’t raised with an Indigenous background, but have Indigenous roots,” she tells me. After high school, Kerry was a dedicated mom and homemaker, and decided to return to school as an adult to pursue a three-year program in Child and Youth Care. After a couple of years in the field, she was drawn to a job listing for a Tutor Escort to work with Indigenous students, “and now it’s been twenty years that I have been working with this population,” she shares. “I felt connected to it, comfortable and it felt like it was where my home and place was. I still feel that to this day.” Ten years ago, Kerry moved to the Elk Valley and began working in Cranbrook as an Aboriginal Education Support Worker
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Kerry tries to be very inclusive and mindful in this role. Working with teachers, Kerry may be invited into classrooms to present information on Indigenous people, their history and cultures. She has had amazing guests present to classes or the entire school, including Joe Pierre Jr. Nasuʔkin on Ktunaxa Legends, Amy Cross with a Metis Presentation and Dancing, the Ktunaxa elders among others. The education begins in Kindergarten with the Learning Journey Series over six weeks. “It’s really great, the animals teach them about social skills like sharing and caring,” Kerry says. “I approach each level differently. Children’s stories for the little ones, videos for the middle grades… we adapt as best we can and there are a lot
