John D. Bransford (Editor)

Dances with Dependency: Out of Poverty Through Self-Reliance

Solutions are offered to the poverty inherent in indigenous cultures, developing nations, and inner city populations, which have become disempowered by long-term over-reliance on mainstream political, social, and economic programs developed for their benefit.These welfare systems easily divest recipients of the resources and mind-sets necessary to become self-sufficient. Solutions range from instituting policy reform and enhancing cultural development to reframing dependency mind-sets.

Building on Strengths Through Collaboration

The Learning and Development Initiative (also known as the Learning Inquiry Initiative) is an ongoing initiative in operation at various sites throughout the Vancouver School District. It’s purpose is to uncover and celebrate the knowledge, understandings, principles and skills fundamental to learning. This process includes all associated employee groups, parents, students, and community groups.

Aboriginal Education is for All Students

Aboriginal Education is for all students. Evergreen School Division has included the Aboriginal perspective in as many areas of the curriculum as possible from Kindergarten to Grade 12. An impressive Aboriginal collection has been built up to provide the necessary resources for all teachers and support staff to incorporate the Aboriginal perspective in the curriculum. Educators can choose from books, videos, art, puppets, music, posters and more in 55 themes related to Aboriginal education. Resources are appropriate for all age groups and skill levels.

Digital Archives: Connecting Indigenous Past And Present

Indigenous Australians, who comprise the world’s oldest surviving culture, have relied on oral tradition to define themselves and their place in the universe for more than 60,000 years.

Today, many Indigenous Australians live in isolated, extremely poor communities. Substandard housing, high unemployment, and low levels of literacy and school attendance severely undermine health, well-being, and cultural continuity. Not surprisingly in these conditions, the beliefs and traditions of Indigenous Australians—expressed in hundreds of languages and dialects—are now disappearing.

Aboriginal learners can make unique contributions to fields of science and technology

This report from the Canadian Council on Learning notes that aboriginal people in Canada are sharply under-represented in science and engineering occupations. More can – and must – be done to increase the relevance of learning and engagement of Aboriginal students in science and technology. Choosing careers in science and technology will benefit Aboriginal students directly through employment, but more importantly they can make a tremendous contribution to Canada.

No Time for Complacency: 2007 Annual Report on the State of Learning in Canada

This report by the Canadian Council on Learning examines many of the factors that contribute to successful lifelong learning—from early childhood, through the school years and into adulthood. It also takes a special look at the link between health and learning, and at the learning challenges faced by Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.
(NB: published in both English and French)

Redefining How Success is Measured in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Learning

Increasingly, Aboriginal communities are administering educational programs and services formerly delivered by non-Aboriginal governments. They are developing culturally relevant curricula and community-based language and culture programs, and creating their own educational institutions. As Aboriginal people work to improve community wellbeing through lifelong learning, they recognize the need to identify appropriate measurement tools that will help them assess what is working and what is not.
(Source: Canadian Council on Learning)

signs of trouble

Canada has a strong history of investment (both philosophical and financial) in public education.

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John D. Bransford (Editor)