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WHAT'S NEW - MARCH 2005

RESEARCH ON MEETING THE LEARNING NEEDS OF FIRST NATIONS, MÉTIS AND INUIT (FNMI) STUDENTS

Welcome to the Web site for the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards (COATS). This area of the Web site changes monthly. The theme for this month will be of interest to teachers, administrators, and parents who are exploring research on meeting the learning needs of First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) students. The section below identifies Web sites related to the topic. We hope that you find this Web site to be a valuable resource. For quick reference bookmark http://www.teachingquality.ab.ca today!

WEB SITES RELATED TO RESEARCH ON MEETING THE LEARNING NEEDS OF FIRST NATIONS, MÉTIS AND INUIT (FNMI) STUDENTS

Aboriginal Education
Copyright © 2001, Province of British Columbia
Ministry of Education
Victoria, BC
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/abed/effprog/

This Web page reports some recent developments in Aboriginal education from British Columbia. Specifically the Web page deals with five effective programs developed for First Nations students. Although there is no simple formula for designing effective programs, the introduction identifies a range of program criteria that have, in combination, led to success. These program components include such features as appropriate instructional goals, the use of relevant First Nations materials, the involvement of Elders, the participation of First Nations Support Workers, and the establishing of a procedure to demonstrate the effectiveness of the programs.

Aboriginal Teaching Resources
University of Lethbridge
Lethbridge, AB
http://www.uleth.ca/edu/currlab/handouts/aboriginal.html

This online handout is designed to provide useful and valuable information for teachers of Aboriginal students. The Web page is one of a series of online resources at the University of Lethbridge. The collection includes a wide variety of points of departure for identifying Aboriginal teaching resources within the library. One set of resources is related to Alberta's Program of Studies as well as to curriculum documents from other western Canadian provinces. Another set of resources classifies the extensive terminology required to locate library materials associated with particular First Nations. Still another set of resources includes an assortment of Internet links with a clear focus on Canadian sources.

Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis & Inuit) Programs
Northland School Division No. 61
http://www.nsd61.org/Newpage/Website/nativelanguages.html

Alberta's Northland School Division serves Aboriginal students in 24 schools and boasts of success in its 20 language programs. The schools and their communities are located within a vast geographical expanse. The students are Woodland and Plains Cree as well as Dene. These students have many and diverse cultural needs. This Web page outlines the approach of Northland School Division to addressing the needs of First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) students, especially their cultural and language needs. Alberta's FNMI Education Policy Framework of 2002 guides the program initiatives undertaken by the Department of Aboriginal Programs of Northland School Division.

A Dot on the Horizon
Stirk, S.
Educational Insights, 8(3).
© 2004 Educational Insights
Centre for the Study of Curriculum and Instruction
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
http://www.ccfi.educ.ubc.ca/publication/insights/v08n03/articles/stirk.html

Subtitled A Study of First Nations Families and Education, this online journal article, presents some recent research regarding the educational needs of Aboriginal students. Using action research, Stirk identifies some of the impediments to learning that Aboriginal students frequently face and that might go unrecognized. In the interviews that she conducted with parents, several themes crystallized-experiences of rejection and racism, the need for students to learn about their own culture, the need for students to achieve a sense of belonging, and the need for sufficient support for academic achievement. Teachers require awareness and professional development to address these students' needs. References are included. Ms. Stirk has been a teacher in western Canada for over 20 years.

Education of Aboriginal Students. 2004
Durish, P., Coelho, E., & Kosciejew, L.
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
Toronto, ON
http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/depts/tps/School&Society/word%20files/04Aboriginal%20sts.doc

This Annotated Bibliography for School and Society Projects originates with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in Toronto. The document was originally developed as part of a pre-service package for teachers in 2003 and was updated in 2004. The document has three major parts. A first part introduces a set of guiding questions related to Aboriginal education. A second part presents a collection of over 20 recent print materials along with brief annotations. A third section provides a compilation of over 15 Web sites that are linked to resources in Aboriginal education. The online document makes frequent mention of research initiatives related to Aboriginal education.

Effective Practices in Special Programs
Winter 2004
Copyright © 2004 the Crown in Right of Alberta, as represented by the Minister of Learning
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/specialneeds/practices/ EffectivePractices_07.pdf

This online newsletter focuses on the special learning needs of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students. The newsletter begins by emphasizing the themes of giftedness and effective programming. This edition of the newsletter also features comments on successful learning outcomes in programs at locations within Alberta. One example is the Blackfoot cultural program of the Kainai Board of Education, along with the Aayaaksima Riding Program and the Aisimohki Program (Healing Circle). Another example is the Advantage Learning Laboratory Program of Seba Beach School. The newsletter also includes useful contact information for the Special Programs Branch of Alberta Learning.

First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education (FNMI) Program
Wetaskawin Regional Public Schools
Wetaskawin, AB
http://www.wrps.ab.ca/pdf_docs/2003_04/2004_07EdPlan/HelpYouth.pdf

This web document from Wetaskawin Regional Public Schools describes a program for the 2004-2005 school term named Helping Youth. This program serves over 600 FNMI students in Grades K-12. The program is distinguished by the presence of a FNMI Cultural Resource Coordinator, FNMI qualified Teachers, and FNMI qualified Resource Workers. The program has provision for the Resource Workers to receive considerable professional development. The program also incorporates substantial involvement by the school community as well as the activity of an Advisory Committee. This program is accompanied by a related evaluation plan. In addition, the Director of Student Support supervises the overall program.

The learning needs of Aboriginal students can be diverse and can vary with language and community. This Web page provides a directory for First Nations in Alberta. The directory lists 43 First Nations. The entries are classified under three treaty areas-Treaty 6, Treaty 7, and Treaty 8. Linguistically, in Alberta, First Nations are found in three groups-the Algonquian, Siouan, and Athapaskan linguistic families. This resource provides some initial contact information useful for identifying First Nations communities. This directory is part of a set of directories for First Nations across Canada.

Rainbow Spirit Project
Edmonton Catholic Schools
Edmonton, AB
http://www.ecsd.net/programs/rainbowspirit_project.html

From its inception, expectations were that the Rainbow Spirit Project would result in more Aboriginal students graduating from high school. Beginning in September 2001, the Rainbow Spirit Project was piloted at five Edmonton Catholic schools. One prominent aspect of the project was identifying best practices for teaching Aboriginal students. The project is also distinguished by such features as the presence of cultural liaison persons, extensive curricular adaptations, cultural elements, and professional development for project staff. More than 5,000 students and 300 staff were involved in this project. The Rainbow Spirit Project has provided benefits for non-Aboriginal students as well.

Rekindling Traditions for Aboriginal Students
Aikenhead, G. S.
Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 2002, vol. 2, no. 3
© 2002 Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education
http://www.mcdowellfoundation.ca/main_mcdowell/current/ Aikenhead_journal_article.htm

This article addresses the issue of native students and science education in Canada. For a variety of reasons, many native students find that science curriculum is out of their reach. It is part of a foreign culture. Accordingly, this article describes a research and development project undertaken to make science curriculum more accessible to Canadian Aboriginal students. Rekindling Traditions, as it is termed, results in six units with teaching strategies that can make native students successful with the science curriculum. References are included. Dr. Aikenhead is a professor at the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan.

A Select Bibliography of Children's Books by and About Aboriginal Peoples for Ages 4-14. 2004
Russell-Letourneau, K.
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/lib/bib/index_e.html

This bibliography, last updated in 2004, collects some material of potential interest to young Aboriginal students. The items are catalogued under four major headings: "fiction," "myths and legends for older children," "non-fiction," and "picture books." As the title indicates, the target age range is 4 to 14 years. Karen Russell-Letourneau is a librarian with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and located in Ottawa.

Sharing Our Success. 2004
Bell, D., Rose, S., Anderson, K., Fortin, T., Spencer, K., Simard, L., & Ottoman, J.
Society for the Advancement of Excellence in Education
Kelowna, BC
http://www.saee.ca/publications/A_021_HHH_MID.php

This research, conducted by Dr. David Bell and his associates, focuses on the needs of Aboriginal students in western Canada. A major purpose of this research is to share news of success in meeting the learning needs of Aboriginal students. The report is organized into 15 chapters and deals with 10 case studies in schools located in four Canadian provinces-British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba- and the Yukon. The report is based on data collected in the 2003-2004 year and was published in May 2004.