As there were many requests for the resources and documentation that we provided at the forum, we are posting them below:

Overview of MSBA, SSBA and OPSBA initiatives-handouts

Additional documentation and links:

Manitoba School Boards Association

MSBA Survey of school board and district initiatives 

Saskatchewan School Boards Association

SSBA First Nations and Métis Education Action Plan 2010-2012 

2011 National Aboriginal Trustees’ Gathering

Ontario Public School Boards’ Association 

Urban Aboriginal Education Project 

Please contact the CSBA head office at info@cdnsba.org or our provincial associations for more information on these initiatives.

Supported by the Ontario Ministry of Education (Aboriginal Education Office), in collaboration with Lakehead University and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, the goal of the project was to develop innovative approaches to meet the needs of First Nation, Métis and Inuit students living in large urban centres.

See this video for more information on the engagement opportunities and research developed by Lakehead University and Lakehead District School Board through the Urban Aboriginal Project.

The CSBA interviewed Cathi Siemieniuk, Director of Education as well as Sherri-Lynn Pharand, Superintendent, to explore the extraordinary resources and opportunities developed by Lakehead District School Board for this project.

CSBA: What opportunities has the Urban Aboriginal Education Project provided to the school district?

LDSB: Lakehead District School Board established an Aboriginal Education Advisory Committee (AEAC) in 2003, with the mandate to provide advice to the Board on all matters related to Aboriginal Education.  This committee has been instrumental in laying the foundation that enabled the UAEP to be successful and provided guidance, advice and direction for the project.

The UAEP has provided an opportunity for Lakehead District School Board to work together with our community in order to identify and address key priorities in Aboriginal Education.  This project provided the following opportunities within our district in the following four main areas; Aboriginal Student Supports, Staff Supports, School Supports and Community Supports.

Student Supports:

Cultural Programming

Students of Lakehead Public Schools have participated in cultural learning activities such as Powwow’s, Fall Harvest and in-school cultural learning.  This opportunity to build positive relationships among schools, community and families has allowed Aboriginal students to feel proud of their Aboriginal identity.

Aboriginal Role Models

The intention of the role model program was to have Aboriginal artists, cultural and traditional teachers and Elders visit schools and classrooms.  The key partner for this program was the Learning Through the Arts team who created an Arts program in elementary schools with Aboriginal artists.

Aboriginal artisans worked collaboratively with classroom teachers in Grades K to 7 and have facilitated professional development sessions for teachers.

Aboriginal Mentorship

The Aboriginal Mentorship program is offered in all secondary schools and is integrated into the Native Studies credit courses.  The goals of this program are to improve student achievement, empower Aboriginal youth as they gain interpersonal and communication skills, leadership, increase public confidence, and nurture positive community relationships.

Students in the mentoring program have the opportunity to volunteer as mentors or protégés to Aboriginal students at an elementary school.  In addition, the community has provided learning opportunities through workshops and student/community engagement through participation in various activities and events.

The Aboriginal Mentorship program has created spaces within the school that honour Aboriginal culture and traditions.  School, community and student relations are strengthening, along with Aboriginal students feeling an increased sense of belonging, self-respect and pride in their heritage.

Aboriginal Transitions

The Aboriginal Transitions program is offered in secondary schools by a Special Assignment Teacher (SAT).

The Aboriginal Transitions program provides in-school student supports and cultural and community connections for First Nations students who leave their First Nation communities to complete their secondary education in Thunder Bay.

In December 2009, Lakehead District School Board received approval for a new locally developed credit course entitled Grade 10 Aboriginal Transitions.  This course is focused on First Nations culture, as well as the literacy foundational skills that will enable success in other areas of the curriculum.

Special Assignment Teachers support student success in the Transitions program by:

• welcoming and conducting tours for new students
• supporting professional development
• coordinating and accompanying students to community events
• hosting guest speakers
• liaising with students and their teachers or guidance counselors
• contacting parents and communicating regularly with school social workers, school guidance counselors and boarding home parents to discuss student achievement and social issues
• building public confidence and collaboration with First Nation educators to ease transitions for First Nation students
• encouraging students to attend classes daily and helping individual students with assignments
• linking students with social workers or guidance counselors.

Family Connections

The Family Connections Program operates within an elementary school on each side of the city.  Its focus is to provide programming for parents that helps them assist their children to be successful in school, for example; literacy and numeracy strategies, how to help with homework, dealing with bullying, drugs and alcohol prevention, parenting tips and healthy diets.

The program also hosted:

•  community kitchens in partnership with the Friendship Centre
• baking and craft sessions for parents learning new recipes for healthy eating/snacks and making of a craft that could be done with children
• for the Love of Books –sessions were held for parents that encouraged them to help their children read
• Rock, Paper, Scissors – craft program in partnership with the Friendship Centre gave parents ideas and supplies to work at home on crafts to help develop children’s motor skills and creativity
• a guest speaker from the Friendship Centre conducted a session on self-esteem
• U Make the Difference – nine week program facilitated by the Friendship Centre taught parenting skills on interacting with their children during play and ideas for developing communication skills in young children

Resources and curriculum were essential in providing the support to our participants:

•  crafts – variety of books related to doing crafts with your children/ideas for parents
• literacy – mini lending library available to parents; books are divided into ages 0 to 3 and 4+
• numeracy – resources kept on site to help parents help their children with Math, i.e., manipulatives, tools for learning fractions, etc.  One-on-one help for parents who struggle with Math also provided.
• Parents as Partners in Education – series of workshops put together by the Literacy and Basic Skills Program
• Healthy Food and Nutrition Workshop – created by the Family Connections Program using a variety of sources
• Family Connections Parent Guide Book – produced by the Family Connections program

Child care, healthy snacks and transportation were all provided.  Through our Adult Education Centre, parents can stay at the Family Connections program in their child’s elementary school and work on credits towards their diploma.  To date, we have had three high school graduates out of this program.

Elder Supports

Elders engaged students and classroom teachers in traditional teachings, while serving as role models for students in the classroom, creating a welcoming and engaging environment that is accepting for all, developing awareness among teachers of instructional methods through oral communication, and encouraging youth to further engage in school activities.

Local community Elders and Senators provided advice on various UAEP initiatives.  They provided opening and closings remarks, were available to give advice and shared their wisdom about cultural teachings.

An Elders Advisory Committee was established and includes three Elders and one Senator.

Later Literacy Program

Educational Assistants (EAs) were hired half-time to work in five schools with Aboriginal students who were not reading at grade level.  Under the direction of the Special Education Facilitator, the Educational Assistants worked one-on-one with Aboriginal students in Grades 7 and 8 to close gaps in literacy achievement.  The Educational Assistants and Facilitators received regular training on literacy strategies and cultural awareness.  Data demonstrating student improvement was collected and feedback was given to evaluate the success of the program.  Additional literacy resources were provided to each school.

School Supports

Welcoming Environments

Lakehead District School Board developed a Welcoming Environment draft document that focuses on four areas that support Aboriginal student and parental engagement:

• Environment
• Practices and Attitudes
• Outreach
• Resources and Instructional Practices

Five schools were selected based on voluntary student self identification data and received funding to participate in further developing a welcoming learning environment for Aboriginal students and parents.  Aboriginal literacy resources, posters and other materials were purchased that reflect Aboriginal culture and tradition.  Funds were also used to access Aboriginal role models to visit the school.

All Lakehead Public Schools have new signage that recognizes the traditional territory of the Fort William First Nation.

Aboriginal Content, Resources and Materials

Numerous books with Aboriginal content and perspective have been purchased for all elementary and secondary schools to support the learning experiences of all students.

Professional development sessions with the Aboriginal Education Resource Teacher and Aboriginal community members were provided to increase teachers’ comfort level to include Indigenous Knowledge within the Ontario Curriculum.

Aboriginal Curriculum Modules

A six-day Grade 10 Civics module was developed that focuses on six topics:  Residential Schools, Treaties, Challenges, Aboriginal Diversity, Aboriginal Rights and Self-Government and Terms to Know.

Teachers and secondary Chairs received professional development on the module.  First Nation and Métis community members provided guidance on the appropriateness and relevance of the module content and also served on an expert panel at the training sessions.

Staff Supports

Professional Development

Educational Learning Teams developed a First Peoples Resource Collection which includes samples of Aboriginal items, books and other resources that reflect the FNMI people.

At least two teachers from each elementary school and six teachers from each secondary school participated in a series of professional learning sessions that built capacity for culturally inclusive and effective teaching and assessment and evaluation practices using the collection.

As the training has progressed, it has become very grade specific, connecting Indigenous Knowledge to specific curriculum expectations.

Additionally, the following training occurred:

•  the Native Studies teachers participated in the Native Studies Professional Learning Community.
• through the English Language Learners (ELL) secondary program, FNMI books were purchased and lessons were created and tried in the ELL classrooms.
• French Immersion teachers also participated in professional development and received Aboriginal resources written in French.
• in partnership with Lakehead Elementary Teachers of Ontario, teachers had the opportunity to participate in an Aboriginal Culture and Oral Language workshop.
• through partnership with the Occasional Teachers union, teachers had the opportunity to participate in three professional development sessions that focused on Aboriginal resources and literacy, student engagement, and Aboriginal culture.
• All schools received two cultural awareness sessions that focused on the Aboriginal Presence in Our Schools Guide, welcoming environments and the Elder/Senator Protocol.

Community Supports

Community

The UAEP project enabled Lakehead District School Board to develop partnerships with community agencies that enabled participation in a wide variety of events such as:

• annual Fall Harvest, Spirit of Winter and Paint the Town Clean events through Community Coalition Unified for the Protection of Children and Youth (CCUPCY)
• Northwestern Ontario’s Aboriginal Youth Achievement and Recognition Awards through various community partners
• annual First Nation Student Welcome Orientation Event
• Aboriginal Music Tour
• Aboriginal Youth Empowerment Program through Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre
• Life Skills Project through the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre
• Neighbourhood Capacity Building Program at Sir Winston Churchill CVI, and McKellar Park, Westmount, Ecole Gron Morgan, Ogden Community, Sherbrooke and Algonquin Avenue Public Schools
• Beedaubin Trickster Theatre Project
• School cultural learning days such as National Aboriginal Day (NAD committee) and cultural learning stations (Neighbourhood Capacity Building Program)

Aboriginal Parent/Guardian Advocacy Program

The purpose of Lakehead District School Board’s Aboriginal Parent/Guardian Advocacy Program is to assist parents and guardians who may need additional supports to understand education practices, policies and procedures, to resolve concerns regarding their child/children’s needs, to connect with community resources and to engage in their child/children’s education.

Staff members are also able to access a volunteer through this program to assist with open houses, student registrations, translation services and nurturing relations with parents/students.  As described in this project, an advocate can be a support person, helper, friend and/or interpreter.

An orientation manual and training have been provided to volunteers to assist them in their roles.

A vital component and opportunity within the Urban Aboriginal Education Project is the research to evaluate the effectiveness of the local projects.

The initial phase of the Lakehead District School Board’s research was carried out by Dr. Christina Van Barneveld who conducted a survey of students, parents, staff and community as a preliminary scan in June 2009.  This research identified areas of priority and provided the framework for the focus groups and qualitative research conducted by Dr. Lisa Korteweg.

The final report completed by Dr. Lisa Korteweg reports the findings and insights gathered from over 40 focus groups with both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students, staff, parents and community and makes recommendations for next steps.

Engaging in this collaborative process with our researchers really enabled Lakehead District School Board to hear the voice of our staff, students, and their families.

CSBA: What policy frameworks have guided the resources produced through the Urban Aboriginal Education Project?

LDSB: The Ontario FNMI Policy has been integral to the UAEP.  The goals and indicators have provided the framework for the work that was completed by Lakehead District School Board.

The Ontario Curriculum was the foundation for all of the resources created under the UAEP.

Lakehead District School Board’s Voluntary Aboriginal Student Self identification has also been critical to the implementation and monitoring of the project and for the communication of the results to the school board and the broader community.

CSBA: How were Aboriginal culture and values infused into the curriculum at Lakehead?

LDSB: Educational Learning Teams developed a First Peoples Resource Collection which includes samples of Aboriginal items, books and other resources that reflect the FNMI people. Teachers were in-serviced in using these materials in a cross-curricular manner while applying differential learning styles to engage all learners. Through use of these resources, respect, understanding and knowledge is developed in all learners.  Students who have had little exposure to the unique cultural, historical, political and social contributions and challenges of FMNI peoples had opportunity to develop these areas.

The first year of implementation focused on building a general Indigenous Knowledge base with the teachers who chose to self develop in this area.  At least two teachers from each elementary school and six teachers from each secondary school participated in a series of professional learning sessions that built capacity for culturally inclusive and effective teaching and assessment and evaluation practices using the collection.

As the training progressed, it has become very grade specific, connecting Indigenous Knowledge to specific curriculum expectations.  For example, all Grade 5 teachers attended four sessions over the course of the school year with professional development delivered jointly by both school board teachers and community members.  One session focused on governmental structures of First Nations, Metis and Inuit linking this to literacy and student work.  Teachers were equipped with strategies, materials and content to embed Indigenous Knowledge into their practice.  They brought back examples of student work at the following session which they moderated and planned next steps to support students.

CSBA: What lasting impact did this project have on the school community?

LDSB: Notable changes are evident in the areas of parent engagement, student engagement, and delivery and assessment of curriculum.  School environments have become a community hub with diverse and welcoming environments. Parents recognize multiple entry points for contributing to school communities.  There is a sense of place, space and belonging for all learners.  Teachers have skills, strategies and resources to bridge the gap of understanding while they experience more success for all learners by building positive relationships with their Aboriginal learners.

More information on the UAEP project can be viewed on the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association’s website.

When Haida Gwaii Trustee Wayne Wilson was a boy, his parents spoke their native Haida only when they didn’t want him to know what they were saying. Canadian society frowned on using the language as part of everyday life.

Wayne’s dad learned this the hard way, as a student at the Coqualeetza Residential School near Chilliwack. Any student who spoke Haida got punished.

In fact, it used to be that society discouraged any form of Haida culture at all. Until 1951 in Canada, even potlatches were illegal.

Fast-forward to 2011. When the Haida Gwaii community holds potlatches, or gift-giving feasts, more than 1,000 people jam the local rec centre. “And the total population of Haida Gwaii is only 5,000!” exclaims Wayne. “The enthusiasm for joining in potlatches and other customs keeps on growing. The rec centre is getting too small to hold us.”

The community’s will to preserve and celebrate Haida culture, including language, is alive and well. The problem is, after all those years of discouragement, only about 50 people still speak Haida. Most are in their 80s and 90s. In seeking to revive the language, Wayne and other Haida face a steep challenge.

Steep – but not insurmountable, says the Haida Gwaii board chair. This fall, the Haida Gwaii School District has launched partial Haida immersion programs in two elementary schools.

Teachers will work alongside elders to get Kindergarteners thinking and speaking in Haida. At that age, children are impressionable – they’re at the perfect age for picking things up quickly. It’s also an ideal time in that Kindergarten and Grade 1 are play-based, with dance, singing and art. There’s a lot of opportunity for communicating. There is also storytelling by the elders.

The full article is published in BCSTA’s October issue of Education Leader.

For Canadian students, an important resource is the Memory Project, coordinated by the Historica-Dominion Institute. The project is dedicated to preserving memories of war veterans in order pass on first hand memories of Canada’s participation in the Second World War as well as the Korean War. Stories are available on their website as well as numerous interactive resources in the classroom section. Another service that this project provides is a Speaker’s Bureau. Many Canadian students have heard from veterans this week who have provided first-hand accounts of their experiences in the war.

Veterans’ Affairs Canada has several resources on their website and encourages Canadians to “make remembrance more than something you feel-make it something you do.”

Media Literacy Week takes place this year from November 7-11 across Canada.

Canada’s youth are exposed to media content on a daily basis, and are continually asked to understand the “nature, techniques and impacts of media messages and productions”. Media education is essential to providing guidance to develop knowledge and critical thinking skills in order to become media literate. This year’s theme is Digital Citizenship, focusing on a student’s rights and responsibilities as digital citizens.

In the digital age, the principles of media education are the same as they’ve always been, but the existence of cyberspace is adding new and challenging questions. How, for instance, does technology affect how we relate to others? Is new technology enriching or undermining culture, learning and a sense of community? What roles do ownership, control and access play? What are the challenges in regulating a global, borderless medium like the Internet?

For more information see our previous post on digital citizenship.

The “featured educators and youth” section on the Media Literacy Week website showcases innovative individuals who are making a difference in the area of media education. The website lists events that are taking place regionally as well as resources to be used by schools.

For more information on digital citizenship, see digitalcitizenship.net.

See the CSBA copyright page for CSBA’s 2010 submission to Canadian Parliament.

Although there are many provisions in the Copyright Modernization Act that improve and modernize copyright issues, such as expanding the fair dealing provisions for the purposes of education, there is concern and opposition over the use of digital locks, which has implications for Canadian education. The digital locks provisions, among the most restrictive globally, provide enhanced legal protections for the use of DVDs, CDs, and electronic books. Essentially, these digital lock provisions can override educational fair dealing-prohibiting teachers to copy, share and print material accessible from the internet for educational purposes in the classroom.

Many in the education community have criticized the government for not including an exemption that would allow for the bypassing of digital locks for legitimate purposes.

For more information on how proposed copyright legislation and digital lock provisions affect users of digital content, including the education sector, see:

• Huff Post Politics Canada
• Michael Geist’s blog
• Speak out on Copyright
• Government of Canada: balanced copyright.

Canada is celebrating with many events taking place in the provinces and territories. To celebrate this important day, we would like to share valuable Canadian literacy links:

• Human Resources and Skill Development Canada, Office of Literacy and Essential Skills
• ABC Canada
• National Adult Literacy Database
• Canadian Literacy and Learning Network 
• AlphaPlus
• Fédération canadienne pour l’alphabétisation en français

UNESCO has many initiatives worldwide to address the link between poverty and literacy. See their website for more information.

Ruth Ann Furgala (Manitoba) was elected President at the CSBA Spring elections. Having served three consecutive years on the CSBA Board of Directors, she has held the position of Vice-President of the CSBA for the past two years. Ruth Ann is a trustee in the Evergreen School Division in Manitoba and has been a member of the Manitoba School Boards Association for eight years (then known as the Manitoba Association of School Trustees). Ruth Ann is a strong advocate for building partnerships with parents, schools, community and government agencies to create a supportive life-long learning environment.

Our collaborative work and initiatives with key partners and stakeholders will ensure that all Canadians benefit from the strength and diversity of the Canadian education system.  Nothing is more important than a united voice supporting public education.

Catherine Fife (Ontario) was elected Vice-President at the CSBA Spring elections. Currently the President of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her new role. As President of OPSBA since June 2010, a trustee for the Waterloo Region District School Board and Vice-President of OPSBA for three consecutive years, she has advocated and lobbied extensively for students, boards and communities on fundamental and critical educational issues. These include focusing on the whole child, fair and equitable funding for First Nations communities, the Coalition for Children and Youth Mental Health, and building community educational supports through strategic partnerships.

We have what it takes to be the strongest advocates for fair and equitable resources that will improve the academic outcomes of all students in our system. I believe our greatest strength is our collective voice, speaking with integrity and courage on behalf of Canada’s children.

The 2011-2012 CSBA Board of Directors can be accessed here.

We will be updating our Congress page in the weeks to come with presentations, AGM documents, and photos of Congress. Thank you for the feedback we received on Congress 2011; please feel free to send further feedback to info@cdnsba.org.

Congress 2012, hosted by the Québec English School Boards Association, will take place in Québec City from July 5th-7th, 2012. More information on program and registration will follow in early September 2011-check back with us for updates.

Best wishes for a healthy and happy summer from the CSBA!