Educational Resources

Search Resources:
Browse Resource Categories:

Issue #47
October, 2013

Promising Initiatives

Ehealth – Building Health Careers for Aboriginal Youth

http://ehealth.med.ubc.ca/projects/ementoring/

Source: Faculty of Medicine University of British Columbia
Focus: Students ages 11-18

Summary: Education is widely considered the most important social determinant of health because of its power to determine future employment, income and social status. This project considers education, specifically mentoring, a key health intervention for youth, and therefore targets Aboriginal students at a critical stage in their developmental pathway, between the ages of 11-18.

One hundred mentor-mentee relationships will be established in urban and rural BC, which will be developed and maintained in collaboration with www.icouldbe.org an established eMentoring platform. Mentors will include post-secondary health science students in institutions across BC, and mentees will include urban and rural youth in grades 7-12. Mentor-mentee relationships will last a minimum of one year, and consist of semi-structured online discussions/activities.

The research component will seek to understand best practices for implementing an eMentoring model in Aboriginal communities; efficacy of technology-enabled engagement; evaluation of eMentoring as a viable alternative to traditional mentoring; and efficacy of eMentoring in promoting awareness, interest and enrolment in post-secondary health science programs, through objective measures (e.g., grades) and self-reported data (e.g., perceived value of Math/Science/English on career path).

This project was one of only three (from a pool of 28) to be funded through the Aboriginal Health Intervention Program by the Canadian Institute for Health Research

Partners and Collaborators:

First Nations Communities: Ktunaxa Nation, Shuswap Nation, Sto:lo Nation and Inter Tribal Health Authority

Organizations: First Nations Technology Council, First Nations Schools Association, Vancouver Island Health Authority, Whistler Forum, http://www.icouldbe.org/

Institutional Partners: UBC’s Institute for Aboriginal Health Summer Science Program, UBC Indigenous Students in Science and Health Science Students Associations, College of New Caledonia, School District 23, School District 36, UBC Okanagon, UBC First Nations House of Learning, UBC Health Science Student Association.

Relevant Research

Forging Partnerships, Opening Doors. Community School Case Studies from Manitoba and Saskatchewan

http://www.education.gov.sk.ca/forging-partnerships

Source: Society for the Advancement of Excellence in Education. Susan M. Phillips and Helen Raham and Elizabeth Bredberg, Co-editors

Summary: The objective of this research was to compile detailed profiles of six community schools enrolling high proportions of Aboriginal learners and to encourage discussion of the findings and their implications for policy and practice. The case studies were designed to provide insight into community program development and delivery in a wide range of contexts and to draw from these schools lessons that may be helpful to others.

Among the questions addressed by the research are:

  • How are their programs developed to meet community needs?
  • What governance structures and adaptations are required to function in an integrated services environment?
  • Which agencies are involved as partners and how do these relationships work?
  • What are the indicators of success and how are they measured?
  • What special challenges do these schools face?

What best practices can be identified in these schools?

Related Links

Indigenous Peoples Issues and Resources

http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/

Focus: General Interest

Summary: Between 2009 and 2013, the University of Arizona Press, the University of Minnesota Press, the University of North Carolina Press, and Oregon State University Press collaborated with funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to publish nearly 50 books into the First Peoples initiative.

Indigenous Peoples Issues and Resources is dedicated to providing information, news, articles, videos, and resources for those concerned about, and for, indigenous peoples around the world. We recognize that our actions effect indigenous peoples in all parts of the world – the consequences of water diversion and hydroelectric energy projects, militarization, global and national events, consolidation of natural resource access, and the like are all having an unprecedented impact on the world’s indigenous peoples.

It is our belief that cross-cultural communication, cooperation, and understanding – as well as easily accessible information and resources – is key to helping indigenous peoples maintain their language, culture, and identity. We hope that you also share this belief. Diversity is one of the strongest components of a healthy world. Together we can help and make a difference – from large to small.

Multimedia

Wearing our Identity. The First Peoples Collection

http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/expositions/expositionsXSL.php?lang=1&expoId=88&page=intro

Source: McCord Museum
Focus: Secondary students

Summary: Questions of identity lie at the heart of many debates in today’s rapidly changing world. Languages and traditions are threatened with extinction. When this happens, unique knowledge, beliefs and histories are wiped out. First Peoples understand well the challenges and tensions that can erode a sense of self and belonging. Yet, they have shown remarkable resilience in both preserving ancient identities and forging new ones.

Whether building on the rich textures of the past or fearlessly transforming contemporary fashion, First Nations, Inuit and Métis use clothing to communicate the strength and meaning of their lives. An exploration of First Peoples’ dress is a compelling and emotional experience, one that must follow interwoven threads of community and spirituality, resistance and accommodation, history and innovation.

Classroom Practice: Secondary

Idle no More: A Protest for Aboriginal Rights – Lesson Plans and Teacher Resource Guide

http://newsinreview.cbclearning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/mar13idlenomore.pdf

Source: News in Review March 2013 CBC Learning
Focus: Secondary Students

Summary: Today’s students will become the civic leaders, community activists and news hounds of the future. Help them learn to love the news in your classroom!

Produced in partnership with CBC News, News in Review is an audiovisual, educational resource designed to inform and teach students about the big headlines and feature news stories in Canada and around the world.

What began as an online conversation about native rights quickly put Canada into the international spotlight as a movement called Idle No More popped up across the country. It was prompted by the federal government introducing Bill C-45 which would have a significant impact on the lives of indigenous peoples.

On this site you will find a series of lesson plans and audiovisual links to allow your students to have a better understanding about what this movement was all about.

Professional Development

What Works. The Work Program – Core Issues 11 Principals as Leaders in Literacy: A Strategy for Literacy Improvement in Primary Schools

http://www.whatworks.edu.au/upload/1348031338415_file_CoreIssues11.pdf

Source: Australian Government: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

Summary: What Works. The Work Program is a set of resources designed to help schools and those who work in them improve outcomes for Indigenous students. The ‘Core Issues’ series is an attempt to distil some topic-based key directions for practical action.

Associate Professor John Munro is Head of Studies in Exceptional Learning and Gifted Education at The University of Melbourne. In this paper Dr. Munro offers a framework for identifying, in a systematic way, ‘where a school is’, in terms of its capacity to improve the teaching of literacy knowledge, skills and attitudes. He asks and discusses key questions that will help school leaders guide their students’ literacy learning and deliver well-planned professional learning for their teachers, to achieve improved learning and teaching outcomes.

The paper includes strategies that have proved successful in practice, as well as sample documents and checklists that leader and staff can use to support them in their school improvement process.

Community Engagement

Recommended Books that Reflect Aboriginal Culture

http://www.famlit.ca/resources/TipSheet-Aboriginal.pdf

Source: Centre for Family Literacy, Edmonton Alberta
Focus: Parents of young children

Summary: This site provides a list of recommended children’s books that reflect Aboriginal culture guided by the following questions:

  1. Is this book truthful?
  2. Is this book respectful?
  3. Is there anything in this book that would embarrass or hurt an Aboriginal child?
  4. Is there anything in this book that would foster stereotypic thinking in a non-Aboriginal child?
Classroom Practice: Elementary

The Learning Circle: Classroom Activities on First Nations in Canada Ages 12- 14

http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/DAM/DAM-INTER-HQ/STAGING/texte-text/ach_lr_ks_lc1214_1331134340172_eng.pdf

Source: Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Harvey McCue and Associates
Focus: Students ages 12-14

Summary: The Learning Circle is designed to help meet Canadian educators’ growing need for elementary-level learning exercises on First Nations. It is the third in a series of four classroom guides on First Nations in Canada.

Because First Nations are culturally diverse, the information in this activity book does not necessarily apply to all groups. To learn more about particular First Nations, and to get help with learning activities, teachers are encouraged to consult local Elders, Cultural Education Centres or Friendship Centres. Some key addresses and contact numbers are listed in Kids’ Stop on the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada website: www.aandc.gc.ca.

The Learning Circle is organized in thematic units, each with its own teaching activities. Units are designed to give teachers and students simple but effective exercises, projects and activities that will encourage students to learn more about First Nations. Educators can follow some of the exercises as stand-alone units on First Nations topics, or integrate them with existing curricula on Aboriginal peoples.

Most exercises in The Learning Circle can be completed in one period. Certain others will take include some activities that are designed for classes and schools that are located near or in First Nations communities.

Sign up to receive monthly PPW Educational Resource outreach: