WATERSMEET, Mich. (WZMQ) – In 2022, Watersmeet Schools set out to change their curriculum to better serve their Native American students. Superintendent George Peterson and his team of educators and in partnership with the LAC View Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, began to overhaul their curriculum to integrate indigenous language, culture, and heritage into all fields of study, a move that has been paying dividends ever since.
“It is really putting a face to it, whether it be a math lesson or English lesson or anything, being able to tie that to what happens in the culture,” said Nate Beelen.
Today. Nate Beelen, a top official with the Michigan Department of Education’s Indigenous Education Initiative Team, visited campus to recognize those improvements and find ways to implement them elsewhere.
“That offers an opportunity to take what’s going on here and figure out how we can tailor that to work in other locations, in other situations, and other scenarios,” said Beelen.
Due to the new curriculum, test scores have increased, truancy rates have fallen, and behavioral problems have decreased. Students are taking notice. Many say they love going to school.
“Ever since I came here, I’ve just been feeling a lot better and more secure,” said Watersmeet Sophomore, Romeo Poler.
With the continued success of the Nimrod Nation, state education officials are hoping more schools will adopt similar programs.
