Online Resources

Non Violent Communication

http://www.cnvc.org/en/user/reset/6200/1280345680/840bc8dad01e434ebe8b25…

The founder of The Centre for Nonviolent Communication is Marshall B. Rosenberg. This website gives a very clear explanation of what NVC is about. There is access to free information such as the first chapter on the book entitled “Non violent communication: a language of compassion”, which outlines the 10 steps to peace, and opportunities for training. Signing up for the site provides access to articles, lesson plans and other valuable resources that are free after you create a login.

• Questions to ponder

1.      The language of compassion can be taught to young children. Think about the important ways you can use the first steps to peace, and how you would make connections to their lives.

Restitution

http://www.realrestitution.com/

Restitution was developed through the work of educator Diane Gossen. This website is an introduction to Restitution as Social Development. It facilitates the bringing together of various educational partners in order to enhance current educational practices in schools, institutions, community programs and correctional facilities.

It lists Aboriginal sites that already use the Restitution model. If you use Explorer as your browser, you can access school-based lesson plans from the Louis Riel School Division. Links to videos are very valuable, such as Respect Rap and Kids Rap on Conflict Resolution, done by children. Also notice the other video clips to see the language of restitution being used by Diane Gossen, the founder. The videos are called, ‘Could we have done worse?’ and ‘What do we believe?’

Circle of Courage

http://www.reclaiming.com/content/about-circle-of-courage

This website links to the Reclaiming Youth International website where you can access information on their mission statement, seminars, training opportunities such as Response Ability Pathways (RAP), Life Space Crisis Intervention, Developmental Audit and other customized training opportunities for purchase or professional development. You can find information on the Circle of Courage and the four core values. There is also free access to printable versions of the posters for use in your setting immediately.

• Questions to ponder

1. The three models for effective communication all have strong components of traditional Aboriginal values for child rearing and building community. Which model do you gravitate to when thinking about young children? When thinking about your Head Start site?

Research Summary: Communication Styles of Indian Peoples

Report by Mary Heit, originally printed in the AWASIS Journal, March 1987

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/lpsc_wksp_2007/resources/heit_report.pdf

This report has many good general guidelines and offers information on First Nations communication styles (1987). However, it should be noted that some of the communication styles described may not represent all First Nations. As in all generalized styles, we realize that there are differences between subsets of cultures as well as individual differences.

Some valuable quotes are below:

“It is inappropriate for anyone to speak for someone else, even if that someone is a child. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion and has a right to be heard.”(p.1)

“It is inappropriate to directly say that someone is wrong, again because of the value of arranging social situations so that no one is threatened and that individual autonomy is maintained. No one should be directly told what to do. Therefore, indirectly, inexplicit, general answers are considered appropriate in many cases because listeners can draw their own conclusions from them and make their own decisions. Herein also lies the value of the legend and of the oral tradition as a means of indirectly transmitting the values of the culture in story form (similar to an allegory).” (p.1)

Our Words our Ways: Teaching First Nations, Inuit and Métis Learners

http://education.alberta.ca/media/307199/words.pdf

This document offers some very useful information on Aboriginal communication styles, including strategies for educators, teachers, and support workers on how to best support Aboriginal learners. A wide variety of topics are presented on Aboriginal students and their families. It explains clearly such things as: Aboriginal worldviews, identity, learning styles, strategies for teaching students with learning disabilities, assessment and authentic reflections on learning. Although it offers very specific information on Alberta such as maps of treaty areas and Métis settlements, it also offers guidelines for talking circles, resource evaluation about Aboriginal Peoples, and Aboriginal parents’ advice for other parents. There are many other useful pedagogical tools such as graphic organizers and a glossary of terms.

[Permission is given by the copyright owner to reproduce this document, or any part thereof, for educational purposes and on a nonprofit basis, with the exception of materials cited for which Alberta Education does not own copyright].

Copyright ©2005, the Crown in Right of Alberta, as represented by the Minister of Education. Alberta Education, Aboriginal Services Branch, 10044 – 108 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5J 5E6.