Education and Literacy
Aboriginal Education Research
The following links have been provided to highlight areas of general interest in Aboriginal education. Although this is not an exhaustive list, the first section is a compilation of several major studies undertaken in the past thirty five years beginning with the Hawthorne Report. The second section includes recent documents and studies undertaken in the past five years. The third section contains links to reconnecting programs – helping connect adoptees with community. The fourth section links to documents and research reports that support the objectives of the Aboriginal Education Action Plan. The fifth section provides additional links that are of general interest for those involved in Aboriginal education across Canada.
Please contact the Aboriginal Education Directorate for more information on Aboriginal Research or to submit a link.
Landmark Documents
The Hawthorn Report Parts 1 and 2
In 1964, the Minister of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration commissioned a study to review the situation of the Indians in Canada with a view to understanding the difficulties they faced in overcoming some pressing problems. The first part of the Hawthorn Report concerns the conditions and programs that are primarily economic, political and administrative in nature. Part Two of the report deals with the issues of education and the internal organizations of reserves.
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/pub/srvy/sci_e.html
Tradition and Education: Towards a Vision of Our Future
The Declaration of First Nations Jurisdiction over Education was approved and adopted by the Chiefs of Canada on December 13, 1988. It is a result of a National review of First Nations Education, a major national study. The wealth of information and conclusions contained in volumes One Two and Three is intended to guide the construction of education systems at the local level that truly reflects the needs and desires of First Nations.
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/afn/edu.html
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
The report of the Royal Commission concerns government policy with respect to the original historical nations of this country. The Commission uses the term Aboriginal people to refer in a general manner to Inuit, First Nations and Metis. (see Section 35(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982. Commissioners appointed to the RCAP held close to one hundred meetings between the fall of 1991 and the fall of 1995. The approach proposed in the final report offers the prospect of change in both the long term and the short term.
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ch/rcap/sg/sgmm_e.html
Our Children: Keepers of the Sacred Knowledge
In November 2003 this report was presented to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern development. Previous reports and studies have been consistent in their recommendations concerning First Nations Education. First Nations ownership of education is a theme that is woven throughout the report. The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development invited the Ministers Working Group on Education (MNWGE) to provide options on strategies and measures required to foster excellence in First Nations Education and to reduce the gap in academic results between First Nations and other Canadians. This report concludes the mandate of the MNWGE.
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ps/edu/finre/index_e.html
Auditors General Report — The Role of INAC
Canada must support First Nations to achieve the required measure of legal authority, education dollars and infrastructure capacity to enable First Nations parents, Elders and leaders to identify and implement the necessary reforms, programs and policies in First Nations schools and in the appropriate provincial and territorial schools. The 2000 Auditor General’s Report identified a series of shortcomings for which INAC bears partial or full responsibility.
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ps/edu/finre/rol_e.html
Recent Reports and Studies
Aboriginal Peoples Survey 2001 - Provincial and Territorial Reports: Off Reserve Aboriginal Population 
The purpose of the provincial and territorial reports is to present a summary of demographic, social and economic characteristics of the off reserve Aboriginal population in the Atlantic provinces, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories. Information on education, residential schools, information technology, employment, mobility and housing, health and language are highlighted. While most of the focus is on adults, there is also information provided on children. Data showing comparisons between Aboriginal groups are provided, as are some comparisons with the non-Aboriginal population. Findings are based on the 2001 Census and the 2001 Aboriginal Peoples Survey.
http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/89-618-XIE/89-618-XIE2006001.pdf
Creating Choices: Rethinking Aboriginal Policy
Policy reforms to assist Aboriginal people should focus on improving the quality of education and health care Aboriginal people receive, holding band councils accountable for the billions of dollars they spend, and recognizing the needs of the seven out of ten Aboriginals who live off-reserve. These are among the conclusions of a major study on Aboriginal policy published by the C.D. Howe Institute. The study, Creating Choices: Rethinking Aboriginal Policy, was written by John Richards, a professor in Simon Fraser University’s Public Policy Program and the Roger Phillips Scholar in Social Policy at the C.D. Howe Institute.
http://www.cdhowe.org/pdf/policystudy_43.pdf
Student Performance Data and Research tools to Ensure Aboriginal Student Success
The province of British Columbia collects, analyses and reports Aboriginal student performance data to target educational funding to enhance access and participation in educational programs. This report examines the kind of data reported, what research projects have been initiated and the issues highlighted by this research.
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/abed/research/ab_student_success.pdf
Support Document for Developing a Student Retention Strategy
This document from Australia provides advice and guidance to schools on the formation of a student retention strategy. Advice is provided in a number of areas including: identifying current student retention rates, identifying causes of attrition, setting targets, sample outcomes and strategies and managing and accessing resources.
http://www.eddept.wa.edu.au/learning/retention/support.pdf
Many Voices, Many Journeys-Symposium Report
In 1999, the Canadian Teachers Federation (CTF) established an Ad Hoc Committee on the Aboriginal Voice in the CTF. The mandate of the committee was to identify the needs of Aboriginal educators and to determine ways to ensure their meaningful and effective involvement in education. In this report the committee recognizes the involvement of Aboriginal educators and the link to improving the success of Aboriginal learners. Participants at the symposium had the opportunity to exchange ideas and strategies regarding Aboriginal education.
http://www.ctf-fce.ca/en/issues/AboriginalEducation/FinalReport2002.pdf
Ad Hoc Committee on the Aboriginal Voice in the Canadian Teachers Federation
This report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Aboriginal Voice in the CTF begins with the diverse stories of the committee members. The committee exists to provide long-term directions and strategies in Aboriginal education and to advocate for and promote initiatives in securing a place for Aboriginal teachers in the profession. The section on future trends and implications identifies the role of population trends ands efforts to re-claim Aboriginal languages and increased autonomy in the education environment.
http://www.ctf-fce.ca/en/issues/AboriginalEducation/Abor2001.pdf
Best Practices in Increasing Aboriginal Post Secondary Enrolment Rates
Aboriginal post secondary enrolment and completion rates are significantly lower than those of non-Aboriginals in Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Interviews with stakeholders and a review of the literature demonstrate that significant barriers exist with respect to Aboriginal learners participation in post secondary education.
http://www.cmec.ca/postsec/malatest.en.pdf
Moving Forward
Moving Forward provided senior education and Aboriginal leaders and policy makers an opportunity to formulate strategies for improving success rates for Canada’s Aboriginal students. Drawing on the research base and diverse knowledge and perspectives, participants examined systematic barriers to progress, promising models and solutions, and jointly developed an action plan for moving forward. Topics addressed included: 1.0 providing critical supports for successful learning, 2.) ensuring supply, training and retention of quality teachers and 3.) creating a culture of learning.
http://www.saee.ca/movingforward/index.html
Literature Review on Racism and the Effects on Aboriginal Education
This review focuses on First Nations education in Canada. It includes literature on American Indian and Alaska Native Education in addition to literature on Indigenous education in Australia and New Zealand. The review is intended to focus on academic literature published in the past decade, although in some cases, earlier literature is also referenced.
http://www.sfu.ca/mpp/aboriginal/colloquium/pdf/Racism_and_Abo_Education.pdf
Protective Legislation for Aboriginal languages in Canada
The First Nations Confederacy of Cultural Education Centres has begun a national initiative to secure recognition and resources for the preservation, maintenance, promotion and use of Aboriginal languages in Canada. The FNCCEC has begun work on the development of protective legislation to achieve this objective. It is the intention of the FNCCEC that through this legislation the Government of Canada will bring into law the recognition of the right and freedom of Aboriginal peoples to the protection, revitalization, maintenance and use of their languages, and provide the necessary resources to implement this objective.
http://www.schoolnet.ca/aboriginal/ab-lang/noframes/index-e.html
Reconnecting Programs
Split Feathers: Adult American Indians Who Were Placed In Non-Indian Families As Children
This study determined that there are unique factors of Indian children being placed in non-Indian homes, that create damaging effects in the later lives of the children.
http://www.oacas.org/resources/OACASJournals/2000October/Feathers.pdf
Stolen Generations
In the 1950s and 1960s many native children were moved away from their communities, to be raised in non-native foster or adoptive homes. In his study Native Children and the Child Welfare System Patrick Johnston called this the "Sixties Scoop".
http://www.adoption.ca/news/040326stolen.htm
Aboriginal Education Action Plan
Objective 1: Increase High School Graduation Rates
The Aboriginal Voice Final Report: From Digital Divide to Digital Opportunity
This report is the culmination of a two-year national dialogue on how information and communications technology (ICT) can assist Canada's First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples in fully participating in the knowledge economy and information society.
Profile of Student Learning In Manitoba
This report provides information on provincial student learning and performance with the purpose of engaging Manitobans in discussions on those factors that contribute to successful results for all students and on the possibilities for further action and improvement. The report is intended to compliment the annual reports that schools and school/divisions are sharing with their local communities.
http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/docs/reports/profile04/index.html
Aboriginal Education in Winnipeg Inner City High Schools
This study investigates the educational circumstances of Aboriginal students in Winnipeg inner city high schools. The study is based on interviews with 47 Aboriginal students, 50 Aboriginal school leavers, 25 adult members of the Aboriginal community and 10 teachers, 7 of them Aboriginal. The study concludes with recommendations that are considered necessary to begin the process of change that needs to take place in the education system.
http://www.policyalternatives.ca/documents/Manitoba_Pubs/aboriginal_education.pdf
Moving Forward in Aboriginal Education: Proceedings Report
A national roundtable has recommended a series of immediate actions to improve success rates for aboriginal students. The recommendations are contained in a report released today by the Society for the Advancement of Excellence in Education.(SAEE) The recommendations were developed at a gathering of senior policy makers, aboriginal leaders, researchers held at Concordia University in February 2005.
http://www.saee.ca/movingforward/index.html
Improving School Success For First Nations Students
This study was prompted by the Report on First Nations Students (October 1997). The recommendations in the report suggest steps to improving success for First Nation students. Many of the causal factors are thought to be rooted deep in history, society and politics. Some recommendations can immediately be acted upon while others are longer term with changes taking place over time. The recommendations are listed in order of priority with those having an immediate payoff given the highest priority.
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/abed/readings/iss/toc.htm
Encouraging Success: Ensuring Aboriginal Youth Stay in School
Unfortunately many Aboriginal people lack the education, training and skills needed to successfully obtain and retain employment in the Canadian economy. The key challenges lie in devising and implementing strategies that are effective in ensuring Aboriginal youth attain high education levels.Encouraging Success is the second of three Canada West Foundation Reports to be published under the Aboriginal Human Capital Strategies Initiative.
http://www.sfu.ca/mpp/aboriginal/colloquium/pdf/Encouraging_Success.pdf
Literature Review - Ministers Working Group on Aboriginal Education
This review focuses on First Nations Education in Canada. However, it includes literature on American Indian and Alaska Native education in addition to indigenous education in Australia and New Zealand. The review is intended to focus on academic literature published in the last decade. It does not include the Report of The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples since the intent is to focus on the past five years of research.
http://www.sfu.ca/mpp/aboriginal/colloquium/pdf/Racism_and_Abo_Education.pdf
Advocating for Culturally Congruent School Reform
This article discusses school reform from a cultural perspective. It speculates that the primary reason why Indian students continue to suffer higher drop-out rates and lower achievement is because a “dissonance” exists between American Indian culture and the culture of the public school system.
http://www.sfu.ca/mpp/aboriginal/colloquium/pdf/Advocating_Reform.pdf
Schools, Families, Communities
Parent and Community involvement in Manitoba’s education system has a rich and varied history. Programs, workers, volunteers and liaisons are examples of how schools welcome and involve parents and families. Schools can include parents and families by inviting participation in the School Planning process, the planning and preparation for the initiatives surrounding the Aboriginal Academic Achievement (AAA) Grant, the Early Childhood Development Initiative (ECDI) and The Early Literacy Initiative.
http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/specedu/sfc/index.html
Integrating Aboriginal Perspectives into Curricula: A Resource for Curriculum Developers, Teachers, and Administrators
Aboriginal perspectives are based on the distinct world view of the Aboriginal cultures. This world view has humans living in a universe made by the Creator and needing to live in harmony with nature, one another, and with oneself. Each Aboriginal culture expresses this same world view in a different way with different practices, stories, and cultural products. To correct historical and social biases that have developed, greater integration of Aboriginal perspectives into existing and future curricula is necessary.
http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/docs/policy/abpersp/ab_persp.pdf
Objective 2 - Increase Access to and Completion of Post Secondary Education
University College of the North
The University College of the North is an institution devoted to community and northern development and reflects the Aboriginal reality and cultural diversity of northern Manitoba. UCN has two main campuses, the Pas and Thompson, complete with a full range of services. In addition there are six regional centers.
http://www.ucn.mb.ca/
How Do Educational Outcomes Vary With Socioeconomic Status
In June 2004, the Manitoba Center for Health Policy Development (MCHP) published a report using information from health, vital statistics, education, social assistance and the community to analyze connections between socio-economic and educational risk factors. The new databases at MCHP provide a unique resource to examine educational outcomes for all Manitoba children at specific points in time.
http://www.umanitoba.ca/centres/mchp/reports/pdfs/ch.atlas.pdf
Aboriginal People and Post Secondary Education - What Educators have Learned
In Canada, more and more Aboriginal students are enrolling in post-secondary programs and completing them. However, retention and success rates remain much lower than their non-aboriginal counterparts. This report examines various strategies, initiatives and practices for increasing the numbers of Aboriginal people in post secondary education. It provides an overview of the present situation in Canada, with comparative examples drawn from the United States, New Zealand and Australia.
http://www.millenniumscholarships.ca/images/Publications/aboriginal_en.pdf
Embracing Differences
This report presents an overview of the state of Canadian post-secondary education for Aboriginal Peoples, people with disabilities and students with children. The report analyzes results from two 2002 surveys - the Canadian Undergraduate Student Survey and the Canadian College Student Survey. Although data show that post-secondary opportunities for Aboriginal Peoples have improved considerably, the proportion of working age Aboriginals with a university education (8%) still lags far behind that of the non-Aboriginal population. (25%)
http://www.millenniumscholarships.ca/images/Publications/embracing_en.pdf
Objective 3: Increase Successful Entry and Participation in the Labour Market
Working Towards Parity: Recommendations of the Aboriginal Human Capital Strategies Initiative
Working Towards Parity is the third and final installment of Canada West's Aboriginal Human Capital Strategies Initiative, a one-year research initiative designed to communicate the importance of Aboriginal human capital to the western Canadian economy, to increase the availability and quality of information regarding the labour market realities facing Aboriginal labour market outcomes.
http://www.cwf.ca/V2/cnt/e4e0b18a2dceb0d087256e45000c74b1.php
Aboriginal Peoples living off-reserve in Western Canada: Estimates from the Labour Forces Survey
This paper provides information on Aboriginal employment and unemployment, Aboriginal youths and the impact on labour market performance in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Annual average data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) on off-reserve Aboriginal peoples from April 2004 to March 2005 are used.
http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=71-587-X
Aboriginal Learners in Selected Adult Learning Centers
Over the past several years, Adult learning Centers (ALC’s) have become a powerful and effective new approach to education in Manitoba. Approximately one third of learners in ALC’s are Aboriginal. This report is based on interviews with Aboriginal Adult learners and the objective was to determine what keeps Aboriginal Adult learners attending ALC’s and what contributes to their success. Tools that allow Aboriginal people to take advantage of educational opportunities are essential if Manitoba is to have a just and prosperous future.
http://www.policyalternatives.ca/index.cfm?act=news&do=Article&call=885&pA=BB736455
Objective 4 - Improve the Research Base for Aboriginal Education and Employment
Manitoba Education Research Network
MERN is a collaborative effort of Manitoba’s Faculties of Education and the Manitoba government’s departments of Education, Citizenship and Youth and Advanced Education and Training. The MERN website has two major goals: to highlight Manitoba’s educational research and researchers, and to foster the development of an educational research community in Manitoba.
http://www.mern.ca/
A Gathering of the People
Q’epethet ye Mestiyexw is a three year research project that creates scholarly opportunities to discuss, debate, determine and publish collaborative First nations research. A University of British Columbia Interdisciplinary group, lead by Jo-ann Archibald, will oversee these activities to ensure that they honour First nations philosophies and cultural protocols. The project will lead to the development of a proposal for a First Nations education research centre at UBC.
http://www.longhouse.ubc.ca/qepethet/mainpage.html
Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable
This website has been developed to provide Canadians with information and documentation resulting from the Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable and related follow-up activities. The Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable held in Ottawa on April 19th, 2004 represented an unprecedented opportunity for members of the Federal Cabinet, Senate and House of Commons to engage with Aboriginal leaders from across the country.
http://www.aboriginalroundtable.ca/index_e.html
Useful Links
University of Saskatchewan Library
The directory lists library and cultural institutions with collections related to First Nations, Metis and the Inuit in Canada. This directory is compiled by the Library and Information Needs of Native People's Interest Group of the Canadian Library Association, the Departmental Library of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada in cooperation with University of Saskatchewan Libraries.
http://library.usask.ca/native/directory/english/index.html
Manitoba Education Research Network
MERN is a collaborative effort of Manitoba’s four faculties of education and the Manitoba government’s departments of Education Citizenship and Youth and Advanced Education and Training. The MERN website has two major goals: to highlight Manitoba educational research and researchers and to foster the development of an educational research community in Manitoba.
http://www.mern.ca/
First Nations Education Steering Committee
FNESC facilitates discussion about education matters affecting First Nations in British Columbia by disseminating information and soliciting input from First Nations. The site was created to provide information about FNESC and their activities, programs, upcoming events and publications. The information on the site, although originating in British Columbia can be useful in other Canadian jurisdictions.
http://www.fnesc.ca/
