Indigeneity, Technology and Education
http://bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/public/AboutUs/ServicesHandbook/1AbEdProgram.pdf
The link above is to the BC Teacher’s Federation Aboriginal Education Program.
This document highlights the BCTF’s commitment to Aboriginal Education. It sets out definitions and protocols for teachers to follow when integrating Aboriginal ways of knowing into their courses. It also serves as a resource linking to other related committees in the area of Aboriginal Education.
Module 3 post 1
The Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium in conjunction with Alberta Education has created a website to assist educators in providing an authentic learning experience which reflects the values and traditions of the First Nations, Metis and Inuit populations. These groups have chosen to provide resources which focus on both literacy and numeracy. In addition to free resources which are embedded within this website, there is a travelling classroom library which can be requested by educators. This library provides students with culturally responsive books for loan. The cultural awareness section is meant for educators and administrators who are unaware or require additional information on the needs of these students and their families. This website is an excellent resource for teachers of Aboriginal students. For the purposes of our course, this website provides an insight on the reality of how few literary resources are available for students. For students reading (or seeing) literary representations of themselves is important for empowering them within their communities.
To access this website, go to: http://empoweringthespirit.ca/
Ronaye Kooperberg (Module 3 – Post 5 – Community Reality)
Having completed my B Ed at the University of Alberta, I was quite aware that the Edmonton Pubic School Board (EPSB) had a large program in place to reach the Aboriginal student, family and community as well as the educators of Aboriginal students. The resources within this website are plentiful. Documents for First Nations, Metis and Inuit families to maneuver the educational system, documents to guide young adults in future career pathways, Cree language resources (as many schools K-12 provide Cree as an option for students), family resources for health and well-being. This all-encompassing website replicates the values of the First Nations people as it does not solely deal with education, rather the development of the whole person (and those who support the student). This website is not only useful for those teachers who have First Nations, Metis or Inuit students but it provides an example of how educational boards are reaching out to meet the needs of all learners. From an Aboriginal perspective, I feel this could be seen as a form of media outreach to showcase the efforts of the school board to connect with the Indigenous communities.
To access this website, go to: https://sites.google.com/a/epsb.ca/fnmi-education/home
Ronaye Kooperberg (Module 3 – Post 4)
The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society is an Aboriginal communications society dedicated to serving the needs of Aboriginal people throughout Canada. The mandate of the AMMSA is to provide an objective view of news, education and technology to the Canadian aboriginal community. This organization publishes Windspeaker and Alberta Sweetgrass as well as a wide-reaching radio station. This website is quite useful in viewing how current events are interpreted or impacting the First Nations of Canada. Furthermore, this website connects the aboriginal community with current events to use in the classroom while respecting the values of the Indigenous people. I happened upon this website while exploring current barriers to post-secondary education for aboriginal students.
To access this website, go to: http://www.ammsa.com/content/home
Ronaye Kooperberg (Module 3 – Post 3)
This website summarizes the findings of the Chiefs Assembly on Education. This document provides an in depth look at Aboriginal education from a First Nation’s perspective. The notes from this meeting highlight gaps within the system from K through post-secondary education. The Chiefs end with the need for more financial assistance to assist with the higher incidents of special needs of students, repairs to a vast majority of the schools as well as the resources to meet the needs of these specific learners. Overall, this document is useful for an insider’s perspective on the state of aboriginal education in Canada and provides a snapshot of the reality of the current educational system within the Aboriginal communities.
To access this website, go to: http://www.afn.ca/uploads/files/events/fact_sheet-ccoe-3.pdf
Ronaye Kooperberg (Module 3 – Post 2)
https://www.erudit.org/revue/mje/2013/v48/n2/1020974ar.pdf
This article looks at the connections between First Nations education and the 21st century. They look into the unique ways of First Nations knowing and those found in the 21st century movement. Historically, the Aboriginal ways of educating were diminished in very oppressive ways, such as Residential schools and now an effort is being made to decolonize education. Efforts have been made to make necessary changes by way of adopting more Aboriginal perspective; however, there is still a lot to be done. It looks at taking colonization head on and addressing it directly.
Module 2 post 5
http://ineducation.ca/ineducation/article/view/61/547
This document is written by a collection of teacher educators, including the perspective of a member of the Lil’Wat First Nation of Mount Currie. Their argument stems back to the teacher education programs and the lack of changes seen in traditional programs that are primarily based on Euro-American-centric values. Indigenous pedagogical principles such as,inclusivity, community building, recognition and celebration of individual uniqueness are not reflected or encouraged in Education programs. It is realized that to shift the mindset of preservice teachers it requires continuous effort and is met with various challenges along the way.
Module 2 post 4
http://firstnationspedagogy.ca/mckeoughetal.pdf
It is determined in this article that Aboriginal children are at a severe disadvantage at school and more specifically, with literacy and literacy development. The authors suggest that an introduction to oral storytelling is, not only an Aboriginal tradition, but it is also the first steps when learning to read and write. Storytelling, historically and today, is the way that First Nations people share knowledge, culture and lessons and in doing this they preserve what is most important to them: language, traditions, culture and identity. Combined with the oral and storytelling components it is also brought forward that the literacy resources used need to reflect First Nations culture and address the social and spiritual realities of Aboriginal learner.
Module 2 post 2
http://www.native-languages.org/
This site is a catalog of various Aboriginal languages. The site provides linguistic and cultural links for those interested in researching the subjects. Their mission is “dedicat[ion] to the survival of Native American languages, particularly through the use of Internet technology.”
This site is very basic in design but contains an enormous amount of content. Those researching protection of Aboriginal culture through technology and specifically protection of languages will benefit from its use.
Module 2 – Post 4
Ryan Silverthorne
This organization is focussed on education and more specifically on the use of information technology as a means to support and serve Aboriginal communities. The site contains information on how the organization promotes educational technology in Aboriginal communities as well as links the various related article links on native perspectives on education, integration, information technology et.
I feel this is an excellent site for those who want to explore First Nations Organizations who are advocates for technological advancement in aboriginal communities, understanding philosophies and how action is being taken.
Module 2 – Post 3
Ryan Silverthorne