Windspeaker-Canada’s National Aboriginal Newsource

http://www.ammsa.com/publications/windspeaker

This publication is very broadly distributed throughout all of Canada. The editorials and submission pieces come from writers nationally. They focus on current events, music and art and personal pieces. Links are available to other Canadian publications and Aboriginal radio stations. I really liked the section on health and book reviews – point of view pieces and experts providing information and advice on a plethora of projects.

First Nation’s Education Steering Committee
http://www.fnesc.ca/publications/index.php

An independent society that focuses’s on improving education in British Columbia. The links are an excellent support for learners, parents, and educators. There is also a focus on news releases with editorial reviews to delve deeper into issues that are being identified. The publications page has a search engine to research topics and reports related to Aboriginal education.

First Nation’s School Association

Homepage

At first glance, I noticed that these pages from FNSA really centred on progressive education for First Peoples. I really found the current events section of the site extremely informative. And there was also a publications centre which has a variety of articles, papers and publications. They have a lending library! This is a fabulous resource that I haven’t seen before. There is also, a special needs resource toll free hotline for parents, educators and administrators who are seeking advice or connections. To have full access to all publications and services you do need to become a member or associate member but it would be immensely worthwhile to undergo that process.

National Centre for Firsts Nations Government
http://www.fngovernance.org/publications/index.htm

NCFNG site contains an enormous amount of articles for all Canadian to learn and understand to process involved in the First Nations Government process. There are research publications, governance best practice reports, and presentations of findings. It is a trans-national site from BC to the Atlantic Provinces that is fabulous at detailing information for support and services for communities and youth engagement. You can find commentary that is specific for your centre or you can garner a better understanding of issues and events in other areas of Canada. They have offices in each area for support.

First Nations Summit

Homepage

FNS is a very professional set of pages that has live webcast broadcasts from Chiefs and community members nationally and internationally. The references available include editorials, and FNS press releases. I was really intrigued by the current events section which included the FNS presentation to the BC Missing Women’s Inquiry which is available in pdf format. As you scroll through the pages, it is a great option to look at the videos from Grand Chief Edward John as he speaks to a variety of organizations including but not limited to; the United Nations and a National China Trade groups.

Copyright, Heritage, and Australian Aboriginal Art

A very interesting and very pertinent read: Given the changes that have recently taken place within the digital realm and ideas about open sourcing and legitimate copyright claims this paper’s critical look at the laws governing such issues is remarkable. There are sections that deal with a diversity of issues such as European appropriation and reinstitution of art and the idea of original creativity and ownership. There are further references made to parallel cases before the courts in Canada and the United States. In the end, the summary is grim. An unfortunate picture is painted about the rights of Indigenous people to their cultural artwork and the legal discourse surrounding the issue.

Turtle Island News Network

This site pertains to both news and research with a trans-national spotlight . Although it starts out by focusing strongly on the issues and challenges, it quickly begins presenting focused options and theories for change. The focus is on recommendations emanate from the standing senate committee for Aboriginal peoples One area of focus highlights ways that pressures on Aboriginal youth can be mitigated. /i appreciated the strong focus throughout on best practice and evidence based programming. What was also interesting was how the site addressed what barriers exist for parents to be involved in their children’s education and how much it was necessitated for the success of Aboriginal youth in mainstream education.

Hope or Heartbreak: Aboriginal Youth and Canada’s future

This publication is a special issue of the Horizon’s periodical that overviews the complex issues facing Aboriginal Youth in Canada today. It details the realities and the research that are currently being discussed in a variety of tribes. Of particular interest for the development of my MP for class is the paper included from doctoral student Cheryl Aman who investigates factors that have been researched for success of Indigenous students in BC. It overviews the policy changes that the Ministry is being challenged to review. There is also a research brief from Dr. Alison Taylor on the Factors that affect the education and work transition of Aboriginal youth. Overall, this is the single most relevant collection of contemporary research and writing that deals with Canadian Indigenous youth that I have come across so far.

Situated Learning: Legitimate peripheral participation

This book details the idea that learning is a social/co-operative mechanism not something that occurs individually. It posits that a real shift in education is needed so that we can legitimize the learning process. It looks to me that they are emphasizing a return to “apprentice-style” learning or as I see it of a more authentic learning process. The book also highlights the idea that a group’s hegemonic control over the resources for learning are imperative in effective education of the society’s youth. It also paints an interesting picture of how the “masters” need to continue to learn alongside their pupils as they facilitate the education process.

Links between technology and authentic learning:

Let’s ask the kids? All students say that they would rather be doing then studying. Real world education for all kids involves incorporating authentic tasks in an authentic learning environment. When this is combined with technology it creates a powerful means of creating a learning situation that is applicable and engaging. M. Lombardi provides an overview in this article about the why’s and how’s of authentic learning. There are links to powerful online learning tools and simulations for kids to create media, think critically about their own work and collaborate with others using remotely operated tools and web-based data.

The World of Science Education

This is a book written by Stephen Ritchie of Queensland University that overviews research being done in Australia about Indigenous Science Education in the Pacific. The author shares the findings of others about how education can be used to bring about decolonialization for Aboriginal peoples. He also explores a number of interesting journal articles and provides insights into improvements and successes that have occurred.

Saskatchewan Aboriginal Education Initiatives

The Saskatchewan Education Ministry has created this site as a provincial response to formulate educational recommendations to better meet the needs of the growing Aboriginal population in the province. The initiative was also influenced from the findings of the Royal Commission of Aboriginal peoples. The province went a step further to create the Aboriginal Education Units K-12 which is linked to the site, as well as creating an annotated bibliography and extensive list of web resources. There are dialogue questions that encourage teachers to reflect on what constructivism will look like in the class room and what a transformative approach will mean to their practice. Within the resources section there are targeted subject areas with related information and sources.

Maori educational leadership site

Theory in practice at Maori Indigenous schools – a fabulous collection of powerful videos, links and resources. Technology is being successfully incorporated in a variety of ways to strategize ways of the students accessing authentic learning practice. The articles that were linked covered a broad scope of topics from attitudes and ethics all the way to pedagogical leadership in building an effective learning environment. The vision of the Aboriginal board for education 2026 is truly impressive. This site has amassed a repertoire of incredible statistics and success stories

Transformative Pedagogies and Critical Constructivism

The author begins by explaining how all curriculum can be broken into mainstream, hidden and nullified. There are models and representations of different ways teaching practices take place from traditional didactic practice to socially-engaged constructivist. There is a further exploration of how constructivist approaches can help education evolve from the old-school power over dominancy in education to a power-with knowledge approach. Eco-justice and indigenous science are explored and I see strong parallels to the “teacher as mediator” approach overviewed and the epistemology of Aboriginal learning. Links to further resources at the end