χpey̓ is the only Indigenous Choice school for the Vancouver School District. Families and caregivers send their children to be immersed and learn via aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing. Land based learning is a critical element of indigenous learning as well as providing a safe and caring environment for our students and their families with an emphasis on belonging, culture/community and mastery. Our goal is to provide opportunities (transportation and field trip fees) for our students to experience land based learning and to provide food for after school care and PAC meetings.

1) Food Security
a) Non-perishable food for school pantry – $1000 requested – to assist children who attend after school
care.

2) Student Experiences
a) Field Studies – $5000 requested: Transportation assistance for our students. Bus transit is frequently
used, but many of the land based events require longer bus rides with two or more transfers.
Therefore school busses are a more suitable and safer mode of transportation but come with a
greater cost. Our goal is that every class would engage in a land based activity at least twice a
month. The students as a result will find the learning more engaging and purposeful and aligned with
indigenous ways of learning, knowing and doing.
b) Grade 5/6/7 camp – $6000 requested: Cost of attending a three day trip through Takaya tours or
other provider. The opportunity for our intermediate students to participate in a canoe/experiential trip
with an emphasis on visiting indigenous sites helps foster and create a strong sense of identity in our
students. Many of our students never get the opportunity to travel or camp so it ensures all of our
students experience something together of cultural significance.
c) School Wide Presentations – $3000: Indigenous performances such as drumming, singing, and
storytelling are essential to self identity. Our students come from different nations and we endeavor
to provide performances from different nations. Our goal is to hold at least one performance per
month beginning in November 2018.

3) Parent Engagement
a) $1000 requested: Food for PAC meetings is vital component in meetings with our

parents. Often their children attend as well and due to the meetings lasting a minimum of 90 minutes
food is essential in making our families feel safe and secure.