Indigenous Top Ten
December 13, 2017
GPC, Office of the Treaty Commissioner sign strategic alliance
Great Plains College and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner have signed a strategic alliance to improve education on Treaties and Indigenous knowledge and collaborate on the promotion of Indigenous-inclusive learning environments. “The Office of the Treaty Commission has had an enormous impact on our student culture and in its support for Indigenous students in particular,” said GPC Vice President Academic Brian Gobbett. “The college is committed to incorporating Indigenous perspectives and knowledge in capacity building, community service and teaching. We are happy to have an ongoing relationship with the Office of the Treaty Commissioner and pleased to formalize it through the signing of this strategic alliance.” NationTalk
GPC, Office of the Treaty Commissioner sign strategic allianceEdmonton school board fights to preserve Indigenous language knowledge
The Edmonton Journal reports that the percentage of those who knew a traditional Indigenous language has declined since the previous census, despite the Indigenous population surge in Edmonton’s metro area. To combat this declining percentage, schools within the Edmonton Public School Board are working to include more Indigenous language content in their lessons, and several schools are offering language and culture classes during regular school hours. “We talk lots about weaving First Nations, Métis and Inuit culture and curriculum together,” said Melissa Purcell, the supervisor of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit education with the Edmonton Public School Board, adding that “you cannot have culture without language, and language without culture.” While the decline of languages such as Cree is worrying, Cree language instructor Eunice Hunter-Beaver explained that there are a number of heartening trends, such as the increase in the number of university-educated Indigenous youth who are learning language and returning to the communities to teach them. Edmonton Journal
Edmonton school board fights to preserve Indigenous language knowledge
The Edmonton Journal reports that the percentage of those who knew a traditional Indigenous language has declined since the previous census, despite the Indigenous population surge in Edmonton’s metro area. To combat this declining percentage, schools within the Edmonton Public School Board are working to include more Indigenous language content in their lessons, and several schools are offering language and culture classes during regular school hours. “We talk lots about weaving First Nations, Métis and Inuit culture and curriculum together,” said Melissa Purcell, the supervisor of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit education with the Edmonton Public School Board, adding that “you cannot have culture without language, and language without culture.” While the decline of languages such as Cree is worrying, Cree language instructor Eunice Hunter-Beaver explained that there are a number of heartening trends, such as the increase in the number of university-educated Indigenous youth who are learning language and returning to the communities to teach them. Edmonton Journal
UBC to recognize all Indigenous languages as undergraduate admissions requirements
The senate at UBC’s main campus has approved a motion that recognizes all Indigenous languages as prerequisites for undergraduate admissions at the school. The new policy states that direct-entry undergraduate admission requirements will accept any Canadian Indigenous languages taught at a Grade Twelve or postsecondary level, even if the language is not listed on the UBC Calendar’s website. “We want to send a very clear message that we want to support students learning those languages … particularly for people whom that language is a part of their culture,” said UBC’s Director of Undergraduate Admissions Andrew Arida. The policy will take effect in 2018, and will apply to the school's Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. NationTalk
Unifor, CN Rail donate $250K towards reconciliation-based activities, translation of materials for schools
Unifor and CN Rail, through the Canadian Community Fund CN Rail Project, have donated $250,000 to the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada. The donation will support the Caring Society's reconciliation-based activities, centralize reconciliation learning on its website, and offer materials translated into French and five Indigenous languages that will be distributed to low-income schools free of charge. “Children are experts in love and fairness and take naturally to reconciliation,” said First Nations Child and Family Caring Society Executive Director Cindy Blackstock. “This donation will support our efforts to help all Indigenous and non-Indigenous children learn about our shared history in ways that promote the full and proper implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.” Morning Star
With $5M donation, Nunavut Sivuniksavut pursues student housing
Nunavut Sivuniksavut has received a combined $5M from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc and the Nunasi Corporation to secure student housing for its students. For the last 15 years, college staff have been finding apartments and housing for each student attending the college, and with over 50 students enrolled this year, the task is becoming increasingly difficult. “It takes a lot of staff time here to secure all these apartments, to secure the leases, to furnish them,” said Nunavut Sivuniksavut Coordinator Morley Hanson. “The student housing market really tightened up.” Hanson explained that the college will use the fundraising and donations to secure a residence building, and that the college is waiting to hear back about a new set of buildings near the institution that could potentially serve this purpose. CBC
Canadian postsecondary institutions work to better support Indigenous students on campus
Maclean’s highlights the efforts of college and university campuses across Canada in supporting Indigenous students following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report in 2015. The article touches on changes in the industry, such as increased Indigenous-focused programming, Indigenization plans, and new and improved student supports. “What I am generally seeing across the country is a pretty solid effort by a lot of post-secondary institutions not only to make their campuses more welcoming for Indigenous students but to tackle the challenging question of how to bring in Indigenous perspectives, worldviews and knowledge,” says Ry Moran, inaugural director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Maclean's
GECDSB, STAR conduct professional development to improve reconciliation
Two school boards have announced recent professional development initiatives to improve reconciliation at their schools. The Greater Essex County District School Board in Ontario has announced that it will be providing staff volunteers with professional development to become liaisons and allies in reconciliation. During the training, Greater Essex County District School Board volunteers will listen and learn from Indigenous parents/guardians and students on how to build authentic and reciprocal relationships with the First Nations, Metis and Inuit students and families within school communities. Earlier this year, the St Thomas Aquinas Roman (STAR) Catholic School Division in Alberta focused their Learning Day on FNMI culture and history in a “historic day for the school division.” The day built on partnerships established with Nipisihkopahk Education Authority in Samson Cree Nation and Miyo Wahkotowin in Ermineskin Cree Nation, and saw staff participate in over 60 sessions and presentations led by First Nations leaders. NationTalk (GECDSB) | La Combe Globe (STAR)
Saskatoon partners with Indigenous education sector
The City of Saskatoon has forged closer relationships with the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies and the Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research in order to achieve its goals of a more diverse workforce. City council unanimously endorsed the MOU that will see the city offer recruitment information and labour forecasts to the two institutions on city jobs, with the goal of having Indigenous people make up 14 per cent of the city’s workforce. In 2012, 6.4 per cent of the city’s workforce was Indigenous. “We are really excited to refresh this relationship we’ve had with the city,” said Audrey Hestand, acting director of the Gabriel Dumont Institute. Warren Isbister-Bear, director of planning and development at SIIT, added that he believes the move will help improve Indigenous people’s quality of life. Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Morinville’s next Catholic school to be named after Indigenous saint, feature longhouse
St Kateri Tekakwitha Academy, the next Catholic school to be built in Morrinsville, Alberta, will reportedly feature a longhouse, colour-coded pods, and a major solar array. The school and its design refer to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, whom the St Albert Gazette explains is “the patron saint of ecology and the first First Nations person from North America to be canonized as a saint.” The 350-student K-to-6 Catholic school will consist of four pods built around a central corridor, with each of the pods representing a different aspect of St Kateri’s history. The central corridor will be painted to look like an Indigenous longhouse and act as a cultural zone for school assemblies. The school will also host a solar array that will cover the school’s entire roof and will be a projected 130 kilowatts in size. The school is expected to begin construction next spring and to open in September 2019. St Albert Gazette
URegina honoured with eagle staff for reconciliation efforts
The University of Regina has received an Eagle Staff created by Elder Roy Bison and his son Teddy Bison for the institution’s efforts towards reconciliation. “The Eagle Staff is representative of a nation. In our traditional societies when visitors approached an encampment or community the presence of the Eagle Staff meant that the visitors were coming in peace and respect. In contemporary times, the Eagle Staff represents the ideals and values of the owner. It may represent a history,” explained Elder Roy Bison. “In this case, the Eagle Staff is a powerful symbol of the relationship with the indigenous people of this territory.” Students and executives, as well as chiefs from Nekaneet First Nation, White Bear First Nation, and Starblanket Cree Nation were present for the ceremony. “By accepting it, we have to fight to ensure the education of all students, in particular our Indigenous students,” said URegina President Vianne Timmons. CBC | URegina
