What Success Looks Like

Every child deserves an engaging, stimulating and supportive learning environment. In fact, studies show that students not reading at grade level by Grade 3 are four times more likely not to graduate high school.

Indigenous children are much more at risk of falling into this statistic than any other demographic due to a myriad of factors, including the intergenerational impacts of residential schools, discrimination within classrooms, limited or no access to school and more. 

Providing vulnerable children with the critical tools they need to feel confident and succeed in their education is essential. Since 2016, United Way Saskatoon and Area has partnered with Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools to run Summer Success – a two-week literacy camp for children in Grades 2 and 3. The program targets a younger demographic to ensure indigenous students don’t face the same barriers as their predecessors in the classroom and later in life. It further facilitates cultural connection by providing readings that embed First Nations and Métis language into them, along with traditional activities to create a well-rounded, affirming experience.  

The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) is proud to help close academic gaps for Indigenous youth by funding First Nations and Métis cultural and language activities within the Summer Success program. With more than 95% of participants identifying as Indigenous, this program is vital in helping children see themselves and their cultures reflected in learning materials and promoting academic achievement. 

As the program grows, it offers a promising model for other initiatives to adopt on how to provide culturally informed literacy support – one student at a time.

Diocese of Saskatoon