Tag Archives: First Nations

The Runner – A Video Vignette on Stereotypes

The Runner

In an attempt to delve further into the content of module 2, I searched for a website on recognizing stereotypes and how colonialism has defined Indigenous people.  What I came across was a Vimeo video published in 2011 called The Runner.  This vignette provides the perspective of Canadian youth, teachers as well as academics on this topic. This video talks about the impacts of stereotypes in general and then focuses on how the media represents aboriginals.  The “meat” of this piece is the discussion around how media representation (misrepresentation) of First Nations communities affect the individual.  This pieces allowed me to get closer to understanding how stereotypes can impact a culture and begin to see how this can begin to possibly erode a culture.

The use of this technology, the video vignette, provides a forum for communicating identity and stereotypes, with the intent to breakdown the stereotypes for future generations.  This video could be useful to high school/post-secondary educators to create a discussion around stereotypes and First Nations populations.

To view this video: http://runnermag.ca/2011/11/stereotypes-of-first-nations/

Ronaye Kooperberg (Module 2 – Blog Post 3)

Tony Bates Associates Ltd: Research on Distance Education for First Nations/Aboriginal Students

The Tony Bates Associates Ltd is a private company which specializes in consulting and training for e-learning and distance education. The site consists of a number of resources surround e-learning but I found the resource page which focuses primarily on distance education for First Nation/Aboriginals to be the most relevant. The site links to a few related publications but mainly focuses on an article about the experiences of First Nations students who have participated in postsecondary distance ed in rural settings.
Research Page:

http://www.tonybates.ca/2014/02/25/research-on-distance-education-for-first-nationsaboriginals-from-irrodl-vol-15-no-1/
Article on First Nations experiences of post secondary rural Distance ed:

http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1357/2770
Module 1 Post 5
Brendan Clark

Native Health and Digital Storytelling

nativehealth_wl1

Native Health and Digital Storytelling

I’ve included this site because I know from my own experience working with native people   (along side native interpreters at Fort William Historical Park) that stories play a key part in the cultural narrative of native peoples (Ojibwa in my case).  This site takes people’s personal stories of healing and transfers them into a digital medium which allows them to share their experiences with a much wider audience.  This is a powerful tool because their unique perspective can be shared with others and perhaps help them with situations in their own life.

First Nations School Association

Weblog 4.2

http://www.fnsa.ca/

The First Nations School Association is a BC organization that works with BC FN schools around the province. Their priorities are:

  • Language and Culture
  • Leadership
  • Funding
  • Effective Instruction
  • Information Communication Technology (ICT)

FNSA often works closely with FNESC (I believe they are co-located in the same building). FNSA has been very helpful in helping provide culturally appropriate curriculum in BC and also with bringing FN schools and educators together.

Posted by Trevor Price

August 4, 2015

First Nations Education Steering Committee

Weblog 4.1

 

http://www.fnesc.ca/

The First Nations Education Steering Committee is dedicated to First Nations-controlled education and improved outcomes for BC FN students. They run a wide variety of programs, including a partnership with SETBC (special ed. technology), Connected Classrooms. They support FN language education, health and science career promotion.

The Connected Classrooms programs addresses a serious problem for FN students (8 – 12) in isolated communities or small FN schools, which is the lack of access to qualified instructors in advanced courses in math, science. Connected Classrooms tries to offer “a combination of technologies, including real time video conferencing, to connect and create an interactive classroom environment” where students are taught by an instructor online (live) along with an in-home educator who is present with the students.

Posted by Trevor Price

August 4, 2015

Module 4 Post 5: First Nation Profiles Interactive Map

My husband and I have just returned from a two week tour of the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island.  We came across this First Nation Profiles Interactive Map as we were trying to learn more about each of the territories that we were exploring.  This map was published by the by the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada to provide information on each of Canada’s First Nations. Its intention is to make the most often requested information more readily available to the general public. Each profile includes the official name of First Nation along with more detailed information about its registered population statistics, election system and governance, federal funding, and various Census statistics. They also contain links to each community’s website.  This resource could be used in the classroom to highlight and explore the prevalence and diversity of Canada’s First Nations.

An Inuit Community Profiles Interactive Map is also available through Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.

Jaclyn

Government of Canada. (2015). Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada – First Nation Profiles Interactive Map. Retrieved from http://fnpim-cippn.aandc-aadnc.gc.ca/index-eng.html

Government of Canada. (2015). Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada – Inuit Nunangat Map. Retrieved from http://fnpim-cippn.aandc-aadnc.gc.ca/index-eng.html

Module 4: Post #1- Organizations Working Towards Human Rights

It is encouraging and exciting to learn about different organizations involved in teaching different aspects of Indigenous culture and history and working towards making a difference in terms of education, empathy and understanding. Most importantly, Indigenous people are involved and active in these organizations.

Here is a list of some organizations that seem to be helping to make a difference.

http://www.fncaringsociety.com/– The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society

  • information on how to get involved in your community and make a difference for equal opportunities to succeed

http://projectofheart.ca/teacher-guideslesson-plans/– Lesson plans created by FNCFCS to teach about social justice issues  

http://projectofheart.ca/– Project of Heart

  • created by Sylvia Smith to commemorate the Indigenous children who died in residential schools and to find ways to take action and form relationships between Indigenous and non Indigenous people.

http://projectofheart.ca/history/– Teaches empathy through history

http://www.kairoscanada.org/– KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives (unites eleven churches and religious organizations)

  • pursues ecological justice and equal rights

http://www.kairoscanada.org/dignity-rights/indigenous-rights/blanket-exercise/– Kairos Blanket Exercise

  • A simulation exploring relationships between Indigenous and non- Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Participants role play First nations, Inuit and Metis Peoples with blankets representing land to understand the impact of land colonization

** It is recommended that the The Blanket Exercise should always be followed by a talking circle and to be aware that it will likely raise deep emotions. Local First Nations, Métis or Inuit individuals or representatives should be invited to the workshop to honour the traditional territory, to teach, and to begin to build a relationship. (http://sttpcanada.ctf-fce.ca/lessons/wilton-littlechild/activities/)

http://www.legacyofhope.ca/– Legacy of Hope Foundation

  • raises Awareness of the Legacy of Residential Schools and the impacts on First Nations, Metis and Inuit Peoples

Module 4 – Post 5: Protest 2.0: Online Interactions and Aboriginal Activists

Theresa Petray’s article, Protest 2.0: Online Interactions and Aboriginal Activists, examines the ways in which social movements, like every other aspect of life, have become increasingly reliant on the internet for networking and information sharing. The article offers an in-depth look at the ways in which the internet and social networking sites have been coopted by disadvantaged groups with few resources, such as First Nations communities, to make their struggle known to a wide audience, to build coalitions, and to gain support to further their cause.

Module 4 – Post 3: Perry Bellegarde: New leader of the Assembly of First Nations

Perry Bellegarde: New leader of the Assembly of First Nations

A brief, but interesting article written by Nancy MacDonald for MacLean’s Magazine, about the challenges being faced by Bellegarde in balancing the many interests at stake in his role as leader of the Assembly of First Nations.  What stood out for me was the mention of how social media has shifted the balance of power.  With social media’s capacity to raise collective voices, the article highlights the fact that the voices of First Nations groups are often fragmented, and the notion of a unified indigenous voice is one that is hard to come by.

Module 4 – Post 2: Moving Forward Together

Moving Forward Together is a toolkit/handbook developed by the First Nations Health Council Communications Advisory Committee Members.  The toolkit provides support to First Nation communities in their communications efforts by providing practical advice and tools proven to work at the grassroots level. Although the handbook offers a lot of interesting insight and information which can be leveraged by First Nations groups concerned with improving communications between and amongst communities, the toolkit also contains four case studies which revealed some unanticipated, authentic challenges faced by First Nations groups in building an online presence and following.