Write to Read BC

Nisaika Kumtuks Elementary School

About the organisation

Nisaika Kumtuks is an elementary school in Nanaimo. It opened its doors in September 2014 as is the first urban aboriginal public school on Vancouver Island. At its start, if offered children from Kindergarten to grade 4 an Aboriginal focused curriculum.

Nisaika Kumtuks means “ours to know” in the Chinook language.

The school started in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Vancouver Island in Nanaimo, BC, with additional support from Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre, Mid Island Métis Nation, School District 84.

About the library

Write to Read BC installed its 16th library for the students and their family members. Sponsors included the Rotary Clubs of Nanaimo and Lantzville.

The public school celebrated the official opening of its first library, with lieutenant-governor of BC Guichon.
Children drumming at the opening ceremony of their school library.

Previously, students at Nanaimo’s Nisaika Kumtuks Elementary Centre walked to the public library for books. After the ribbon-cutting, they had a library in their school building.

Cutting the ribbon at Nisaika Kum’Tuks Elementary Centre.
Cutting the ribbon on opening day.

The library offers tablets, computers, and video conferencing, the library has books for children and adults that students and their families can use.

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The libraries