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Issue #8
July, 2010

The State of Aboriginal Learning in Canada: A Holistic Approach to Measuring Success – 2009

Source: Canadian Council on Learning (CLC/CCA)

Summary: The Holistic Lifelong Learning Measurement Framework is based on the underlying structure of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Holistic Lifelong Learning Models that were first published in 2007 by the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL). These learning models were developed by Aboriginal learning experts across Canada, marking an essential first step toward the development of the present framework.

The new framework incorporates the elements common to all three learning models, while acknowledging and integrating elements that are unique to the learning perspectives of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. It also provides a shared tool for monitoring progress in Aboriginal communities for future years.

The three main components of the Holistic Lifelong Learning Measurement Framework are: Sources and Domains of Knowledge, The Lifelong Learning Journey and Community Well-being.

Aboriginal Presence in our Schools: A Guide for Staff

Source: Lakehead Public Schools – Ontario
Focus: Teachers and School Board Staff

Summary: This handbook was designed to assist staff to support Aboriginal student success. First released in April 2007, the handbook provides background information on Aboriginal heritage and traditions, cultural teachings, celebrations, treaties, terminology, best practices and community linkages to Aboriginal community agencies.

Free to Learn: Giving Aboriginal Youth Control over their Post-Secondary Education

Source: True North – March 2010 [The MacDonald Laurier Institute for Public Policy]

Summary: A research paper by principal writers Calvin Helin and Dave Snow concludes that: “Aboriginals continue to fare worse than all other Canadians on almost every social and economic indicator. Since education, particularly higher education, is the great contributor to social and economic success, Canada must embark on a sustained effort to get Aboriginal youth into higher education”.

Inuit Art: Cape Dorset Artists

Source: Library and Archives Canada
Focus: Art students and the general education public

Summary:On this site you will see slides of the work of some of the outstanding pioneer artists of whom two (Kenojuak and Napatchie) are still alive and continuing to contribute their art to the unbroken tradition of the annual print collection. Many of these slides are linked to information on Inuit life and culture, and you can access this information by going to Inuit Cultural Perspectives.

Aboriginal Literatures in Canada: A Teacher’s Resource Guide

Source: Curriculum Services Canada
Focus: Senior level English (Grades 11-12)

Summary: This teacher resource guide serves a double purpose. First, it encourages the teaching of Aboriginal literature in English high school curricula across the country allowing Aboriginal students to be taught texts they can relate to. Second, it provides the opportunity for non-Aboriginal students to be educated about Aboriginal culture, history and contemporary life through the richness of Aboriginal writing with its innovative uses of the English language.

Portrait Gallery of Ontario: Four Kings and One Queen

Source: Library and Archives Canada
Focus: Grades 4-6

Summary: This resource is particularly well suited to classrooms investigating the traditional culture of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples and their historical relationship with European powers in the early 18th century. This activity also supports aspects of the Visual and Language Arts curricula. It explores themes of Canadian history, identity and portraiture through lesson plans that interpret the portrait collection.

It includes easy-to-use activities designed for classrooms across Canada with clear curriculum connections for use in Social Studies, Language Arts and Visual Arts.

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