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WHAT'S NEW - FEBRUARY 2004

IMPROVING FIRST NATIONS STUDENT LEARNING & ACHIEVEMENT

Welcome to the website for the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards (COATS). This area of the website changes monthly. The theme for this month will be of interest to teachers, administrators, and parents who are exploring the improvement of first nations student learning and achievement. The section below identifies several weblinks related to the topic. We hope that you find this website to be a valuable resource. For quick reference bookmark http://www.teachingquality.ab.ca today!

WEBSITES RELATED TO IMPROVING FIRST NATIONS STUDENT LEARNING & ACHIEVEMENT

Aboriginal Canada Portal: Learning. 2004
http://www.aboriginalcanada.gc.ca/acp/site.nsf/en-frames/ao28010.html

The government of Canada and six aboriginal organizations sponsor this portal, which claims to include over 16,000 links. The portal offers a comprehensive overview of cultural issues affecting First Nations peoples in Canada. The portal situates links relating to aboriginal education and training under the sidebar heading of "Learning." The Site Map and the FAQs are useful features. Many of the digital resources presented refer to opportunities beyond the usual age of school attendance such as employment and post-secondary training. Other links, however, relate more directly to resources for the school and classroom setting.

Aboriginal Connections-Education. 2003
Copyright © 1997-2003 Rob Wesley
Thunder Bay, Ontario.
http://www.aboriginalconnections.com/links/Education/

This privately sponsored directory and searchable database assembles numerous links on the topic of aboriginal education. The information relates to First Nations initiatives across the various provinces of Canada. One such initiative, for example, is an Aboriginal Head Start program in British Columbia. Typical of many initiatives, it demonstrates the efforts of First Nations to influence the shape of their children's education and to enhance its quality. Many of the links presented could serve as sources of motivation for First Nations students by identifying possibilities for post-secondary education and training. The directory is full of stepping-off points for exploration of opportunities now available to First Nations individuals. The FAQ section contains a statement of purpose for the directory.

Aboriginal Education Resources. 2003
Learning Network: Educational Services
http://www.learning-network.org/professionaldevelop/pd-aboriginalresources.html

This website is part of the Learning Network: Educational Services, which makes available a variety of professional development resources. Many links refer to resources of potential interest to First Nations high school students. Other resources presented here vary widely in focus. For example, under the heading of "Native Studies," the website links to an online curriculum guide for native studies used in Saskatchewan. Under the caption of "Native American Sites," the website connects to topics related to American Indians. The website also contains an announcement regarding an upcoming conference in Edmonton, Alberta, on First Nations, Metis and Inuit education. http://www.learning-network.org/professionaldevelop/pd-aboriginal.html

Aboriginal Studies. 2003
http://www.statcan.ca/english/kits/abst.htm

This website, sponsored by Statistics Canada, provides a collection of teacher resources on the subject of aboriginal studies. The materials are grouped into lessons, articles, and data. Generally, lesson plans and student activities are associated with census information. The materials are intended for use at the elementary, intermediate, or secondary levels. The materials may also take on mathematical, geographical, or historical dimensions. The sidebar header "Teachers" connects to other links of possible interest to teachers, such as an alphabetical listing of lesson plans by subject area. http://www.statcan.ca/english/edu/teachers.htm

Alberta Learning. 2003
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/nativeed/nativepolicy/pdfs/FNMIProgRep.pdf

This web page presents a statement of Alberta's educational policy regarding the achievement of native students. The document outlines a policy framework for the improvement of First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) education. This improvement is viewed as a shared responsibility among several stakeholders. Dated May 2003, the document is organized into an introduction, five goals, and a conclusion. Characterized as an interim report, the 12-page document expresses the province's commitment to the enhancement of First Nations, Métis and Inuit education. The substance of the framework coincides with other Alberta Learning statements on student performance with particular attention to measurement and indicators.
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/nativeed/nativepolicy/Measures.asp

Alberta's recent Commission on Learning also expressed its opinion regarding the status and future of First Nations students in the province, observing the need for advances in the outcomes of First Nations, Métis and Inuit education.
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/commission/archive/status03.asp

Assembly of First Nations-Education. 2003
http://www.afn.ca/Assembly_of_First_Nations.htm

Sponsored by the Assembly of First Nations, this website presents a collection of aboriginal perspectives on various issues relating to education. Under the sidebar heading of "Education," the website presents statements of advocacy and policy indicating that First Nations intend to maintain their involvement in education and to develop a national strategy to promote their objectives. The Assembly also asserts its intent to promote research related to First Nations education. In addition, the Assembly states its goal of communicating and sharing information regarding educational issues. Under the header "Resource Materials," the website contains several additional educational policy documents developed by the Assembly of First Nations. Overall, education remains a matter of vital concern for the Assembly of First Nations.

Ben Calf Robe - St. Clare Elementary/Junior High School
© 2004 Edmonton Catholic School District
http://www.ecsd.net/school_profiles/bencalf.html

This website provides an example of success in aboriginal education. Aboriginal culture features prominently in the profile of this school. Ben Calf Robe School, located in Edmonton, draws native students into Grades 1 to 9 from across the city. The school follows the Alberta Program of Studies while incorporating a wide range of features that reflect the distinct cultural aspirations of its students. For example, the school offers Cree language courses, Native Studies, and a Headstart Program. Special efforts are directed to literacy. The school's offerings also incorporate a number of extracurricular activities of particular interest to its students such as Sweet Grass ceremonies and a Sweat Lodge field trip.

Education. 2003
Indian and Northern Affairs, Canada
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ps/edu/index_e.html

The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs maintains a strong interest in some facets of First Nations education, this website offers indications of educational issues of concern to the Department. The wide range of themes presented include the Cultural/ Educational Centres Program (CECP), which provides means to preserve native culture. Elementary and secondary education are likewise matters of federal jurisdiction. The federal government provides funds for the education of status Indians on reserves (band schools), or reimbursement to a province for the education of aboriginal students. In many instances, the initiatives undertaken involve federal and provincial cooperation. A related web page specifically identifies the topic of quality in First Nations education and factors related to it.
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ps/edu/finre/qua_e.html

First Nations. 2004
Canada's Digital Collections
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/E/SL_firstpeoples.asp

Teachers may want to explore this rich set of online materials. Originating with Industry Canada, this website puts forward a collection of digital resources relating to First Nations peoples. The resources offered here are tied to lesson plans and a variety of learning activities. They provide distinctive insights into the culture, history and languages of Canada's First Nations peoples. The collection includes an alphabetical search function. The website is also searchable by age and grade level as well as by province. Resources are available in English and in French.
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/E/Resources.asp

First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) Program. 2003
St. Paul Education Regional School Division No. 1
St. Paul, Alberta
http://www.stpauleducation.ab.ca/rep_docs/No%201%20News%20issue%203%20Dec%202003.pdf

The First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) Program is the focus of this online newsletter "No. 1 News" (Page 3). The newsletter celebrates the success of a particular initiative in aboriginal education. Previously known as the Native Education Project, the program follows the Alberta Program of Studies. A number of participating schools within the St. Paul Education Regional School Division are offering the program. Generally, it is aimed at enhancing learning outcomes for its students as well as diminishing the barriers to success that they experience. Page 4 of the newsletter introduces the Program's Coordinator and also describes the purpose of the Aboriginal Parent Advisory Council associated with the program.

Health Canada. 2003
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/for_you/aboriginals.html

The health concerns of aboriginal peoples are the subject matter of this web page sponsored by Health Canada. Such concerns can overlap with educational issues. The web page acknowledges a number of health issues and approaches to addressing them. One of the approaches is the Head Start Program, an early childhood development program for First Nations, Inuit and Métis children as well as their families. This program is federally funded. More than 100 project sites have been established across Canada. Further health resources for addressing the specific needs of aboriginal people are available at another web page sponsored by Health Canada. Be sure to take a quick look at the related FAQs posted at this location.
http://www.canadian-health-network.ca/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1044475860190&pagename=CHN-RCS%2FPage%2FGTPageTemplate&c=Page&lang=En

Newsworthy issues related to native education are now easily available online. This web page is a part of a larger website sponsored by the Turtle Island Network, an aboriginal news and information network. In a distinctive news approach, the website reports events and educational issues of current interest to its audience. The perspectives reflect an energetic interest in noteworthy advances in native education. Distance education and educational technology are among the topics highlighted. Beneath "More Education Links," the website presents further digital connections to websites that touch on more issues related to native education in Canada.