Innu schools near fully staffed, with teachers from around the world filling important roles
CBC
The staff room of the school in Natuashish will be full to start this school year, with a mix of people from all ages and parts of the world.
Teachers flew in last week from parts of Newfoundland and countries as far away as India to get acquainted, or reacquainted, with the community.
The school — run by the Innu school board in a remote part of northern Labrador — has done a good job recruiting and retaining talent, said Rena Penashue, Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education's human resources director.
"This year we are going in with pretty much a full slate," Penashue said. "We're still looking for some specialty positions, like phys ed."
The Innu Nation and Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education took over the education system in Sheshatshiu and Natuashish in 2009. Last year, the schools graduated a record 34 students, exceeding the total number of graduates over the 50 years the province and churches ran the education system.
Penashue is expecting another strong year in 2023-24. with 18 kids set to graduate if all goes well.
"We're pretty optimistic," she said. "We've got a very diverse school staff. I'm thinking we're going to have another rewarding school year."
The Sheshatshiu school is also well staffed to start this year, with only a couple of vacancies due to maternity leaves, Penashue said.
Diem Lam Vu, originally from Vietnam and living in Toronto, was one of the teachers looking forward to landing back in Natuashish for another school year.
"When I was recruited I thought I would just go for one year to learn about the First Nation's culture. I felt really privileged to be able to join the school," she said. "And then here I am, in my third year. It was the kids. It was the land. It was the people of Natuashish."
Lam Vu said her connection to the community took her by surprise, and helped her in ways she didn't expect.
"The land helped me to find my identity and heal me in a way that I didn't expect. As an Asian, I really embraced communal living. To me it's like a fish back to a pond."
Syeda Talath came to Newfoundland and Labrador five years ago to earn a master's degree at Memorial University. While in St. John's, she was presented with an opportunity to teach in Natuashish.
"I just grabbed it. I did not give a second thought about it," she said. "I still really enjoy it."