August 29, 2017
For the first time, the Canadian census has released statistics measuring the use of the Mohawk language, known as Kanien’kéha, inside the Ontario portion of Akwesasne. According to the data released in early August, 26 per cent of people in that community identify Kanien’kéha as their mother tongue, with only eight per cent speak the language while at home.
http://www.standard-freeholder.com/2017/08/29/the-goal-is-to-get-more-people-in-akwesasne-using-kanienkehaWiikwemkoong celebrates the success of 91 post graduate students
Canadore College introduces Indigenous leadership and Land Internship
Anishinabeknews – August 28, 2017
On Aug. 14 Canadore College launched an internship program for Indigenous youth in collaboration with the Nipissing First Nation Economic Development Office and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
City to grant Grandview to Matawa for new school
Thunder Bay News – August 29, 2017
Matawa First Nations has cleared its most pressing hurdle needed to open a proposed 100-student Aboriginal high school in Thunder Bay. On Monday city council unanimously agreed to sign a letter of intent to turn over the former Grandview Lodge to the Indigenous organization, with a plan to open the Student Education and Care Centre for First Nations Youth as soon as September 2018.
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/city-to-grant-grandview-to-matawa-for-new-school-705299
First Nations University introduces reconciliation studies program
CBC News – August 28, 2017
A new program at the First Nations University of Canada is giving one student a fresh perspective on the history of Canada’s residential schools.
According to the school’s website, the program “focuses on recognizing the shared history of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and the need to promote healing, equity and respect for … Indigenous cultures and values in Canadian Society.” It’s an 18-credit certificate.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/fnuc-reconciliation-studies-certificate-1.4265096
Indigenous youth find hidden talent in robotic program
APTN News – August 29, 2017
Armed with a new set of skills six Indigenous youth are ready to share their knowledge. All thanks to robots. First Peoples Development Inc. teamed up with Cognation Robotics to create a program to educate kids from remote communities. Students first learn how to be build and program a robot. They then share what they’ve learned with First Nations in Manitoba.
http://aptnnews.ca/2017/08/29/indigenous-youth-find-hidden-talent-in-robotic-program/
Wiikwemkoong Post-Secondary Graduates Celebration
Manitoulin News – August 23, 2017
An enthusiastic audience of more than 300 parents, guardians, family and friends attended the 2017 Wiikwemkoong Post-Secondary Graduates Celebration held at the Wiikwemkoong Thunderdome earlier this month.
http://www.manitoulin.ca/2017/08/23/wiikwemkoong-celebrates-success-91-post-graduate-students/
AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde supports removing John A. Macdonald’s name from Ontario schools
CBC News – August 24, 2017
Perry Bellegarde, national chief for the Assembly of First Nations, supports a motion passed by the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario calling for Sir John A. Macdonald’s name to be removed from schools in the province.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/john-a-macdonald-schools-perry-bellegarde-1.4261312
Teachers’ union ‘missed the mark’ with call to rename John A. Macdonald schools: Kathleen Wynne
National Post – August 24, 2017
As an Ontario teachers’ union calls for Sir John A. Macdonald’s name to be removed from public schools, the leader of the provincial Progressive Conservatives is standing up for “Canada’s founding fathers.”
Science Camp Helps Youth Build Their Own Ideas
Anishinabek News – August 18, 2017
Aamjiwnaang First Nation, where you will find robots, wind turbines, flying rockets and kids in the same place at the same time? Well… at a science day camp that’s taking elementary-age children on a series of adventures designing and building their own engineering creations here this summer.
http://anishinabeknews.ca/2017/08/18/science-camp-helps-youth-build-their-own-ideas/
Sweat Lodge Building a Great Experience
Anishinabek News – August 18, 2017
The construction of a sweat lodge during a three-day visit to Big Grassy River was a hit at Teach for Canada’s Summer Enrichment Program at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay.
http://anishinabeknews.ca/2017/08/18/sweat-lodge-building-a-great-experience/
Indigenous Students Set to Flourish After Successful Summer
TB News- August 17, 2017
Work can be fun too. It’s one of the many lessons that the graduates of the First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program gained from their six-week program. And as the graduation ceremony unfolded on Thursday, and the level of camaraderie between participants culminated, it seemed to be the most important message. “Everyday – it didn’t even feel like work, it just feels like you were with family,” said Shaylyn Lands, a 17-year-old from Eagle Lake First Nation.
Indigenous Youth Pitch Ideas at Annual Business Camp
CBC – August 17, 2017
Indigenous high school students from across Canada get a chance to bring their business ideas to life this week in Regina. The First Nations University of Canada’s 9th Annual Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Camp kicked off this week with some traditional knowledge. “I think for the kids, they didn’t know they would learn a lot of traditional things,” Andrew Starblanket, assistant camp co-ordinator, told CBC News.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/fnuniv-9th-entrepreneurship-camp-1.4250492?cmp=rss
Mohawk Language Course to be Offered for 1st Time at UW
CBC – August 17, 2017
Students hoping to learn the Mohawk language Kanien’keha this fall at the University of Waterloo will need to know it’s not like any language course they’ve ever been in before. Knowing French or Spanish won’t help you, instructor Nicole Bilodeau said. “The Mohawk language is so different from European languages that you really have to teach it in a different way,” Bilodeau told CBC News.
Statement on the Signing of the Historic Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement
Anishinabek News – August 17, 2017
The Beausoleil First Nation Youth Council welcomes the historic signing of the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement. This is an important first step in moving out from under the Indian Act and assuming control over our collective destiny.
UWinnipeg Students Take Part in Land-based Learning at Keeseekoowenin Ojibway
UWinnipeg – August 14, 2017
Eight University of Winnipeg students took part in a unique field school hosted by Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation where they learned about Indigenous ethnobotany. “This course provides a unique experiential learning opportunity to weave academic knowledge (basics of botany and plant taxonomy) with Indigenous knowledge of Elders,” explained UWinnipeg Indigenous Studies Professor Shailesh Shukla. “Students participate in medicine walks, medicine picking and practice hands-on Indigenous protocols for sustainable use and conservation of local plants.”
ON Requires Better Data on Student Suicides
The Star – August 12, 2017
Student suicide is a growing concern in Ontario PSE, but the province still has “an inconsistent patchwork of tracking systems which does not come close to being comprehensive” that it uses to monitor the issue, reports the Toronto Star. Public health authorities from around the world have reportedly called for comprehensive tracking of suicide deaths, yet the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario currently only tracks suicides by age group, and not by profession or student status. However, steps are being taken to make suicide data more accurate and available, according to Deputy Chief Coroner Reuven Jhirad. The Star reports, however, that there is no specific date for when these measures will be in place.
Canadore Creates Indigenous Leadership and Land Internship
Canadore – August 14, 2017
Canadore College has officially launched an internship program for Indigenous youth aged 15-30 who would like to learn more about how leadership can positively influence land guardianship and stewardship. “Indigenous communities continue to identify enormous gaps in filling employment needs related to environmental sustainability,” said Patricia Chabbert, business and Indigenous relations manager at Canadore. “This program will bring together knowledge keepers and community leaders to help youth prepare to take on these roles within their own communities.” The college has launched the program in collaboration with the Nipissing First Nation Economic Development Office and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Durham to Introduce More Indigenous Content into Broadcasting Program for Coming School Year
Durham Region – August 11, 2017
Durham College says that it plans to introduce new content into its curriculum this fall in order to give students a better grasp of Canada’s Indigenous history. In the 2017-2018 school year, Durham will incorporate Indigenous content into five courses in its broadcasting for contemporary media program. Work is also underway to Indigenize some courses in the college’s police foundations program; protection, security and investigation program; and programs in the School of Health and Community Services. Peggy Forbes, an Aboriginal student adviser and coach at Durham, says the change is much-needed. “People don’t know what they don’t know,” she says. “They are just starting to learn about this really, really dark history. It’s not a pleasant reality, but it’s so important.”
Renaming Ryerson University is not about Sanitizing Our History
CBC Indigenous – July 19, 2017
Canadians would be appalled if a place of learning was named in honour of King Leopold II, the genocidal Belgium monarch who oversaw the slaughter of millions in African people in the Congo. Or if, say, a medical school in Canada was named for Dr. Josef Mengele, the evil Nazi doctor who conducted horrific medical experiments on Jewish twins at Auschwitz. Think these hypotheticals are too extreme? Well, there is a school in Toronto named for the man whose ideas helped create atrocious residential schools where Indigenous children were beaten, raped and abused. Tell those children that Egerton Ryerson should have a university named after him.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/ryerson-renaming-counterpoint-1.4210803
OCAD University has Announced a Collaboration with the Royal Ontario Museum to Showcase Indigenous Culture and History
OCADU – August 2, 2017
The collaboration will allow students from OCADU’s Indigenous Visual Culture program to explore and share cultural objects from the ROM’s Indigenous Ontario collection, and will see the creation of an interactive online learning environment. “We are very pleased to participate in this important collaboration with the Royal Ontario Museum that will further widen participants’ understanding of Indigenous history and knowledge,” said OCADU President Sara Diamond. “The project is aligned with OCAD University’s deep commitment to be inclusive of Indigenous culture and knowledge.”
