Vancouver School Board: Aboriginal Education
Module 4. Blog # 5
Website: http://www.vsb.bc.ca/aboriginal-education
The Vancouver Board of Education (VBE) website hosts an internal link on Aboriginal Education with the Vancouver School district. It is a partnership initiative, between Aboriginal Communities, Ministry of Education and Vancouver School Board to improve the educational success and experience of Aboriginal Culture and Community. Basically the website is a silo that provides information to programs and services available within the VBE for Aboriginal Students. this also includes information about non-academic support services, cultural projects and initiatives that are related to Indigenous students.
This website, provides a glimpse into the cooperative nature of communities coming together and addressing the negative impact of colonization. Education and community health, I believe start as a process when you are young. The VBE is starting a process of reconciliation, by working together with Indigenous communities to address the needs of the youth and their academic needs. As I examine the whole VBE website, it seems to be an umbrella organization that tries to meet the needs of a very diverse cultural community. Although this is a partnership, the VBE still works with the system of education developed as a tool of colonization, thus it underlying purpose is to support the needs of the state. Maybe I read too much into this, but the Prussian Military developed the 12 step education program during the Napoleonic era to create law abiding, loyal product citizens for the state. This website links with the module fours concept of cultural awareness and partnership. It does not directly connect to my project, but does provide and insight into a contrast between the Nisga’s initiatives in education verses the Provinces.
The Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement 2010 – Year One Annual report, is a pdf file. This document is the basis for inclusion, direction and initiatives being taken to address the educational needs of Indigenous youth within the VBE area of control.
Link: http://www.vsb.bc.ca/sites/default/files/school-files/Programs/Aboriginal%20Education%20Enhancement%20Agreement%202010%20Year%20One%20Annual%20Report-%20Final.pdf