The Union of BC Indian Chiefs website is full of interesting information and further resources. Formed with the goals of being stronger when working together, being the voice of their peoples, and of sharing information, the organizations website seems to indicate they have been successful. I would recommend checking this site out as it focuses entirely on issues facing aboriginal communities in British Columbia, which makes the information both timely and relevant.

I was particularly impressed with the Resources and Resource Centre links on the page. The Resource Centre (http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/department/library.htm) allows users to access a library catalogue and digital collections. The Resources section (http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/Resources/) provides links to organizational reports and publications, as well as historical timelines and conference information. The site also includes a Policy and Legislation section (http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/issues/) which focuses on current issues facing aboriginal communities in BC.

http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/

IsumaTV is a multi-media website that focuses on Inuit and indigenous content. The main focus seems to be on video clips. In this respect, the site functions somewhat like YouTube. Users can view recent videos, or search by keyword. For example, I was able to search for “Elders” and “Youth.” The search returned over 300 results for elders and nearly 450 for youth. Although it seems many of the videos are non-English, it’s fairly easy to sift through the results. The site is a good resource for multi-media information on Inuit and indigenous culture.

http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en

A similar site is IndigiTube (http://www.indigitube.com.au/), which focuses on indigenous peoples in remote areas of Australia. IndigiTube does not seem to be as well developed or used as IsumaTV, but does provide an additional resource and additional media for information on Australian indigenous issues.

Here’s another great resource related to aboriginal youth culture: www.nativehiphop.net. What I think is particularly good is the links section which can be found here. There are all kinds of links to young aboriginal artists and tons of YouTube clips and interactive media. Additionally there are tons of web links and event links. Most of all though, it’s a great starting point for learning about some of the less mainstream, young aboriginal artists in Canada. I’d be really curious to see both elders reactions and opinions on this website and how also these resources might be used for educational purposes.

Thanks to the BeatNation web site for this image, among other things.

For those of you who couldn’t find it when Shirley mentioned it in the discussion form, here is the link to BeatNation. For anybody interested in a youth culture, this is a MUST SEE!/ LISTEN!! There are a bunch of tracks here and the dialogue and respect shown even in the text is absolutely fantastic. I will definitely be looking into the history of the aboriginal hip-hop movement much more closely as a result of this. And if it hasn’t been done already, I am sure there is some incredible research value in that topic. I am sure that people like Amy Metcalf and her teachers have contributed to scholarship around this, but it is definitely my first real encounter and all kinds of questions arise because of it.

For example, how many other hip-hop artists are using traditional language in their recordings? I am sure that I’ve heard Australian aboriginal hip-hop, but I don’t have any exact references to draw from. Also, how many different aboriginal languages are being used in hip-hop? And probably most importantly, how useful could hip-hop be in engaging aboriginal youth and preserving indigenous language? 

Of course when it comes to hip hop it’s very easy to compare the plight of African-Americans and the plight of First Nations people. As we learned, many aboriginal groups around the world feel and felt a kinship with African-Americans during the civil rights movement. And there’s no question that hip-hop is vitally important in African-American culture and is born from the sentiment fo the civil rights movement. So it should come as no surprise that there are First Nations artists taking the lead from African-Americans. And the thing that comes to mind for some reason when I think about hip-hop, are the Brer bear and Brer rabbit  folktales, which are extremely similar in many ways to the oral traditions of First Nations culture. Interesting stuff and at the very least a great chance to listen to Dreamwarriors again for the first time in a long-time!

This Government of Canada Panel on Research Ethics website (Modified: 2010-03-22) Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans, focuses on research involving Aboriginal peoples. Due to the fact that the agencies responsible for the formation of this policy statement feel that that there have so far been insufficient discussions with representatives of the Aboriginal communities involved, or with the various organizations or researchers involved, the agencies have decided that it is not yet appropriate to establish policies in this area. The text drafted to date (Section 6) builds on literature on research involving Aboriginal Peoples in Australia and abroad, and is intended to serve only as a starting point for discussions around a policy statement.

I find this website a somewhat hopeful government document for several reasons. For example it:

• Respectfully acknowledges the unique cultures of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples and the fact that specific policy language needs to be crafted in order to accommodate these needs.
• Describes clearly some of the past research techniques that have impacted Aboriginal peoples and “historical reasons why Indigenous or Aboriginal Peoples may legitimately feel apprehensive about the activities of researchers” and the subsequent harm that has resulted.
• States the integral need to include Aboriginal groups in the formation of a complete policy statement.

http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/eng/policy-politique/tcps-eptc/section6-chapitre6/

http://eec.edc.org/cwis_docs/NEWS_ARTICLES_JOURNALS/marshall_james.pdf

JAMES D. Educational Philosophy and Theory, Vol. 32, No. 1, 2000

This site may not be appropriate for module #4 – however, I did think it was interesting and wanted to post the information.

This article examines the introduction of technology within the Maori people within the New Zealand curriculum framework. It highlights the nature of technology and the issues in implementing this paradigm within a Western idealized education system when dealing with the aboriginal people of New Zealand. The author highlights that there has been little to no  research done on the impact or nature of technology on aboriginal people or the resulting influence on the people and their culture.

http://www.ldb.org/indheal.htm

Lori A. Colomeda & Eberhard R. Wenzel

This site examines the indigenous cultures and the impact that the present day has on traditional lands and ways of life. It examines present day life on indigenous health and health issues. It compares indigenous education to the Western linear education system that is presently taught. Cultural contexts and values need to be taken into account when examining indigenous health and education.

http://www.esf.edu/nativepeoples/weaving.pdf

May 2002 issue of Bioscience

“Traditional ecological knowledge can be a source of new biological insights and potential models for conservation biology and sustainable development.”

This article calls for traditional ecological knowledge to be incorporated into curriculum to encourage participation from aboriginal people and increase collaborative relationships. It helps to recognize the contribution of traditional ecological knowledge on today’s society and educational system.

http://www.scidev.net/en/policy-briefs/raising-awareness-of-indigenous-knowledge-in-scien.html

“Over recent years, a greater awareness of indigenous knowledge has increasingly been linked to global sustainability.” This article highlights indigenous knowledge amongst science and technology education and recognizes indigenous knowledge within a scientific context. It highlights the impact of Western education on indigenous knowledge, and lobbies for a collaborative educational relationship.

http://www.ienearth.org/cits.html

“A network of Indigenous Peoples empowering Indigenous Nations and communities towards sustainable livelihoods, demanding environmental justice and maintaining the Sacred Fire of our traditions.” This site promotes education and awareness and mobilizes individual’s consciousness surrounding environmental issues. It has international support and recognition as it rallies behind environment and global issues.