Jo-ann Archibald – photo by Don Erhardt

UBC News has an interesting interview with Sto:lo Nation member Jo-Ann Archibald. With June being National Aboriginal History month, UBC News felt it fitting to discuss her work helping transform Indigenous education in Canada.

http://news.ubc.ca/2013/05/30/a-trailblazer-in-aboriginal-education/

The Display for National Aboriginal History Month is up and ready for June.  Come by and have a look at the various books and DVDs related to the history and culture of Canada’s First Nations communities. 

“June was declared National Aboriginal History month in 2010, after Nanaimo-Cowichan Member of Parliament, Jean Crowder, introduced a motion to make June a month of recognition for First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The motion received unanimous consent in the House of Commons.

Aboriginal History Month provides an opportunity to recognize not only the historic contributions of Aboriginal peoples to the development of Canada, but also the strength of present-day Aboriginal communities and their promise for the future.

Celebrating National Aboriginal History Month in June is a fitting tribute to the heritage and diversity of First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada.” (http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100013778/1100100013779)

UBC Education Library has selected a wide array of our collection, mostly geared toward the instruction of Aboriginal History to children, for the display.

Throughout the month of June, the Library will be celebrating Aboriginal scholarship, creativity, and intellectual traditions with its second annual Aboriginal (Un)History Month. 

From The Vancouver Sun article:

Key education stakeholders are asking the B.C. government to require all students to take a course in aboriginal studies before graduation.

While they already learn about aboriginal issues during Social Studies classes, this proposal would require students to also take a separate course, such as B.C. First Nations Studies 12 or the First Peoples course offered in Grades 10, 11 and 12.

You are cordially invited to re-imagine the role of libraries – specifically the Education Library, First Nations House of Learning Xwi7xwa Library, and more broadly, school libraries will be examined.

The re-imagined teacher education program has inspired revision in the role Education librarians play to respectfully and meaningfully integrate First Nations history, content, and world-views; commit to inquiry and research oriented education; and emphasize diversity and social and ecological justice. Our libraries can support teacher candidates as they acquire theoretical understandings for teaching and apply those theories in their practice. We bring teacher candidates and ideas together in library spaces that offer unique learning environments, where inquiry, collaboration, the role of Indigenous Knowledge, relationships and ways of knowing are celebrated. This session will be interactive: we present our re-imagined roles and seek feedback and ideas to further ensure our relevance for faculty and teacher candidates.

Presented by:

Sarah Dupont
Aboriginal Engagement Librarian, First Nations House of Learning—Xwi7xwa Library

 Jo-Anne Naslund

Instructional Programs Librarian, Education Library

Danielle Winn
Reference and Instruction Librarian, Education Library

Scarfe Building, Education Library Room 155, 12:30pm

The conference program features a range of sessions that will interest teacher-librarians and educators from all levels, and anyone interested in improving their teaching skills in literacy (e.g. visual, critical, etc.), research, and technology.  Please contact Heather Daly if you have questions: hdaly@sd43.bc.ca or 604-937-6380.

Keynotes include: Dr. David Loertscher, San José State University School of Library & Information Science and Chris Kennedy, CEO / Superintendent of Schools, School District #45 West Vancouver.  Featured speakers include: Dr. Joanne de Groot, Dr. Ann Ewbank, Adrienne Gear, Judith Comfort, and over thirty other amazing educators.

October 18 and 19

Riverside Secondary School, Port Coquitlam

Detailed program information and registration is now available here.

~text from the BCTLA Coquitlam 2012 Website

September marks Life Literacy Month – a month to celebrate literacy and lifelong learning. Did you know that nearly nine million adult Canadians struggle with low literacy? Get involved this month, increase your own literacy skills, and encourage everyone to get the skills they need to live a fully engaged life. Don’t forget to also look out for learner stories throughout the month, and be inspired by how literacy impacts lives.

~text from ABC Life Literacy Canada website

Read Janet Steffenhagen’s comments on the Ministry of Education’s re-assessment of grades K-12 education. 

Full article here.

Vancouver Sun article by Janet Steffenhagen, August 21, 2012. 11:11 am • Section: Report Card

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

Read Kathryn Ovenell-Carter’s moving article on why she is training to be a teacher in these trying times.

By Kathryn Ovenell-Carter, 25 Jun 2012, TheTyee.ca

© Copyright (c) TheTyee.ca

As part of the National Aboriginal Day celebration, the B.C. Aboriginal community has received over $20 million in funding dedicated to Aboriginal education and students from the B.C. Provincial Government.

Read the full article in The Tyee here.

By Katie Hyslop June 22, 2012

© Copyright (c) TheTyee.ca

See the Provincial government’s  Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education and Training Policy Framework and Action Plan.