Kâpapâmahchakwêw - Wandering Spirit School
Toronto, ON
Vision: To empower future leaders with a strong cultural identity to be contributing members in a global society.
In 1977, this school was founded on the vision of Pauline Shirt and Vern Harper who were looking for a safer school for their own child. They searched for a school that was culturally safe and nurtured their son’s Indigenous identity. But when a school couldn’t be found, they founded their own school known as Wandering Spirit Survival School, which was designated as an alternative school. In 1983, the school was recognized by the TDSB as a Cultural Survival/Native Way program instead of an alternative school. In 1989, the program was renamed First Nations School of Toronto (FNST). Then in 2018/19, the school returned to its original roots and after a renaming ceremony, and is now called Kapapamahchakwew - Wandering Spirit School.
Details
Population of Toronto
2.93 Million
Languages Spoken
Ojibwe
English
Grades
Kindergarten - Grade 12
About Kâpapâmahchakwêw - Wandering Spirit School
The Kindergarten program at Kâpapâmahchakwêw - Wandering Spirit School is child-centered and culturally relevant. For First Nations people, it provides an opportunity for Indigenous children to learn about Anishinaabe cultural traditions in a nurturing, caring environment. Children learn within a circle of care that includes family, caregivers, the community, and the children themselves.
Children learn about the teachings and ways of their people through becoming engaged physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually in play-based programs that include music, songs, games, stories, and dances of Anishinaabe culture.
Children are engaged holistically (physically, emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually) in play-based programs that include music, songs, games, stories, and dances of Anishinaabe culture.
