ETEC 521: Aboriginal Web Resources

Module 4: Entry 5

Canadian Aboriginal Science and Technology Society

http://www.casts.ca/index.html

The Canadian Aboriginal Science and Technology Society (CASTS) is an organization established by Aboriginal professionals with the intention of increasing the number of Aboriginal people in science and technology (S&T) careers. It began as a vision of Calgary Aboriginal professionals and is now run by a board of directors comprised of science and technology professionals from all over Canada. The organization informs, educates, and provides opportunity for Aboriginal secondary students to become involved in S&T careers. There are several services students can access directly from the site. Youth can apply online for scholarships, inquire about the latest CASTS news, obtain a free membership and submit a resume, browse various educational institutions, and navigate through many useful links. These links include CASTS biannual newsletter (newsCASTS), conferences, teacher resources, S&T role model biographies, a student guide, and a blog site for members.

Module 4: Entry 4

NAIT: Pre-Technology – Aboriginal

http://www.nait.ca/program_home_21562.htm

The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology offers a pre-technology program for Aboriginal students who are wishing to return to school to upgrade their credentials. The program is designed for Aboriginal learners without a strong background in math, science, and English or people who have been out of school for awhile. The pre-technology program is focussed on the following courses: math, English, chemistry and physics. Upon completion of this one-year full-time program, students will be awarded the pre-technology certificate and will be eligible to take technology programs at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. This site offers links to the registration form, Continuing Education programs & courses, advisors, NAIT home, admissions, student services, campus locations, and departments.

Module 4: Entry 3

Aboriginal Forest Resource Technology Diploma Access Program

http://www.cnc.bc.ca/CNC_Programs/AFRT.htm

The Aboriginal Forest Resource Technology Diploma Access Program is offered through the College of New Caledonia (CNC) in Prince George, BC (main campus). This program is aimed at Aboriginal people, but is open to everyone and requires successful completion of grade 10 or equivalent. This is a full-time program that only takes one year to complete. This diploma will offer successful graduates with job opportunities in the following areas: planting supervisor, silviculture survey supervisor, timber cruising & block layout, road layout, harvesting supervisor and fighting forest fires. This site offers links to careers, CNC information, admission requirements, application information, and a program outline.

Module 4: Entry 2

NativeWeb

http://www.nativeweb.org/info/

Based in Dewitt New York, NativeWeb is a global non-profit educational technology organization that utilizes telecommunications and the internet as a portal for Aboriginal people to connect. NativeWeb promotes communication between native and non-native people and actively researches technology usage by native peoples. Their site contains the following five main sections: Resources, Books & Music, Community, Services, and About Us. Resources is a database of links to information on a wide variety of global native topics including anthropology, history, law, arts, sports, religion, etc. The Books and Music centre provides links to where you can order cassettes, CDs, books, and video cassettes. In partnership with Amazon.com, NativeWeb receives a small fee for any order placed through the music centre. The Community Centre section provides a communication portal for users of NativeWeb and includes news, events, and jobs, and will eventually be providing email lists and chat boards. From this section a user of NativeWeb can obtain their own NativeWeb email address. The Services section provides links to NativeWeb’s hosted websites. They currently have 58 listings from around supporting native content and issues. From the home page of NativeWeb there is a link to NativeWiki which is a free public site where anyone can join and add their thoughts on native issues.

Module 4: Entry 1

National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF)

http://www.naaf.ca/html/home_e.html

The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation is a non-profit organization that serves to connect Aboriginal youth in Canada to careers and productive futures. Next to the federal government, the NAAF is the biggest supporter of connecting Aboriginal youth in Canada to future options. Their site contains eight sections: Home, About NAAF, National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, Taking Pulse, Education Program, Blueprint for the Future, Press Room, and Contact Us. Home and About NAAF provide a thorough explanation about the mandate and mission of NAAF. The section of National Aboriginal Achievement Awards describes the awards that are available for outstanding career achievements of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. Included is application and criteria information regarding eligibility for the achievement award. Taking Pulse is a program dedicated to connecting Aboriginal youth to various career opportunities in industry. Education program is dedicated to the financial aspect of NAAF’s mission and includes scholarship and bursary options for Aboriginal youth. Blueprint for the Future contains information regarding career fairs. The Press Room contains news articles related to NAAF and Aboriginal achievement.

Module 3: Entry 6

FAIRA: The Foundation for Aboriginal & Islander Research Action

http://www.faira.org.au/contents.html

FAIRA is a site developed and owned by the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people of Australia.  The organization came to fruition in 1977 in a response to the government of Queensland laws that were in contradiction to human rights and freedoms of Aboriginal peoples.  Today FAIRA continues to advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander’s rights.  The site contains links to issues of Queensland’s Land Rights Newspaper.  The most recent issue is from 2001, but nonetheless there are many worthwhile articles surrounding Indigenous legal rights issues.  FAIRA also provides a link to several issues of fact and information sheets that address many aspects of Aboriginal rights, agreements, policies and several ideas related to Aboriginal ways of knowing and being.

Module 3: Entry 5

African Indigenous Science and Knowledge Systems

http://www.africahistory.net/

Published by Dr. Gloria T. Emeagwali, The African Indigenous Science and Knowledge Systems website offers links to a vast collection of resources submitted by scholars that address African Indigenous knowledge systems (AIK). Dr. Emeagwali is a professor of history and African studies at the Central Connecticut State University who specializes in the history of Africa and the Diaspora/history of science and technology.

Dr. Emeagwali’s website offers links to short extracts of scholarly publications covering the following topics:

• Indigenous African Science and Technology
• African Indigenous Knowledge Systems in the African Diaspora
• Relevant Indigenous Knowledge Organizations
• New Publications/Outstanding Books
• AIDS/Health – Related Readings
• African/African American Scientists/Inventors
• Africana Journals and Newspapers
• African Regional Sites
• General/Archival Sources to Africa
• Africa Related Institutions/Organizations/Programs
• Specialized Aspects of African Studies
• African Cinema
• Black Scholarly/Popular/Commercial Sites
• Selected African Universities
• Africa Related Publisher/Multimedia Resources
• Selected Africa Related Radio and Television Programs

Dr. Emeagwali provides an excellent resource for those wishing to explore various views of African Indigenous science and knowledge systems.

Module 3: Entry 4

Aboriginal Leadership Institute Inc.

http://www.alii.ca/

Based in Winnipeg Manitoba, the Aboriginal Leadership Institute is a non-profit organization who utilizes research to promote and provide educational leadership training opportunities for Aboriginal people. The institute offers courses based on the advice of Aboriginal leaders and topics include negotiation, mediation, conflict resolution, politics, self-governance, effective leadership, and others. There is a list of courses offered and an online registration form for those interested in applying.

Module 3: Entry 3

Aboriginal Resources

http://library2.usask.ca/native/

This site published by the University of Saskatchewan Libraries and the University of Saskatchewan Archives offers links to resources for Aboriginal studies.  This site appears minimal at first, but contains valuable links to resources and databases.  Contained within are links to photographs, archived materials, native law cases, the Northwest Resistance, and credits.  There are direct links to 195 photographs ranging from cemeteries, art, housing, gatherings, people, etc.  The archival material database includes a search engine (currently unavailable) where you can research Aboriginal and Métis resources of various mediums (audio, video, film, maps, etc.).  The native law cases link provides full access to various court cases of Aboriginal nature between the years of 1763-1978.    The link to the Northwest Resistance includes a searchable database, chronology of events, images, and biographies.

Module 3: Entry 2

Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS)

http://www.csfs.org/

The Carrier Sekani Family Services is an organization based in Prince George who support the First Nation’s people of the Carrier and Sekani territory. Services are guided by elders and are offered in the areas of health, family support, children & families, research & development, and family justice. Their site offers links to contact information, events, services, resources, jobs, a newsletter, and a First Nation’s health plan. The Carrier Sekani Family Services operate under the guidance of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council with an objective of the eventual takeover of social, health and legal programs.