Turtle Island News – January 30, 2019
“The Trudeau government is changing how Ottawa allocated $2 billion in annual funding for First Nations education to help ensure on-reserve students benefit from support comparable to what’s offered in provincial school systems”
Mi’kmaw community makes renewed effort to preserve language
CTV News – January 29, 2019
The United Nations has declared 2019 the year of indigenous languages, in part to raise awareness about the threat of endangerment many face. The Mi’kmaw culture can be expressed without words, but the people at We’koqma’q Mi’kmaw School are fighting to preserve their language. At an event on Monday, some of the students admit they could be speaking Mi’kmaw more often at school, and at home.
https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/mi-kmaw-community-makes-renewed-effort-to-preserve-language-1.4273968
Here are the artists nominated for the 2019 Indigenous Music Album Juno
Yahoo – January 29, 2019
The Juno Award nominations are out, and five artists received nods for Indigenous Music Album of the Year. Leonard Sumner, who is Anishinaabe from Little Saskatchewan First Nation in Manitoba, said he was grateful to be nominated. “I definitely appreciate being in the presence of other great Indigenous artists,” he said.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/artists-nominated-2019-indigenous-music-211532487.html
Off-Reserve children need Indigenous language classes too, council says
CBC News – January 29, 2019
The head of the New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council says she’s disappointed children living off reserve won’t benefit from changes to education funding. This spring, on reserve-schools will receive $1,500 per student every year for language and cultural programs, and schools will offer full kindergarten for on-reserve kids aged four and five. This comes after the federal government announced it will reallocate $2 billion for First Nations education to attempt to bring equity between on and off-reserve schooling.
Preservation of Indigenous languages vital to understanding cultures: prof
Times Colonist – January 29, 2019
Prof. Onowa McIvor said the state of First Nations languages is often a function of population density. The greater the population, the more likely it is that their language will be spoken. As well, the farther north you go, the more you will encounter Indigenous languages at work in business, the home and in the community, she said.
More sports events coming to Sioux Lookout
Dryden Now – January 29, 2019
The federal government is helping to grow sports tourism in the north, with a $67,500 investment. The Municipality of Sioux Lookout and neighbouring First Nation communities are set to benefit from improved economic development opportunities, as the funding will assist the area to prepare a sports tourism strategy for the region.
https://www.drydennow.com/local/more-sports-events-coming-to-sioux-lookout
Wenjack and Downie legacy lives on through the Secret Path Curriculum Resource at Trent University
Anishinabek News – January 29, 2019
The Secret Path Curriculum Resource, based on the late Gord Downie’s Secret Path graphic novel about the story of Chanie Wenjack, was launched on Jan. 19 at Trent University in Peterborough.
Matawa Students get Ice Fishing Education on Lake Superior
CBC News – Jan 28, 2019
On Thursday Jan. 24, ten students from a number of northern First Nations took part in an ice fishing trip to Black Bay, on Lake Superior. The students were taking part in one of the many activities that are offered as part of the Matawa outdoor education program.
‘Language Revitalization Pole’ part of project to preserve Indigenous languages on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Sun – January 28, 2019
To mark the launch on Monday of the UNESCO International Year of Indigenous Languages, the First Nations Education Foundation in B.C. is announcing the carving of a “Language Revitalization Pole” in Port Alberni. It will be installed this fall at the University of Victoria, which is recognized as a leader in language revitalization and Indigenous studies.
Indigenous girls tops in Burnaby for grad rate last year
Burnaby Now News – January 28, 2019
“It’s been a long road, and by no means do we believe that reaching a 70 per cent graduation rate means we’ve figured out how best to support each individual Indigenous student in our district, but I think it’s showing that we’re starting to head down the right path,” district principal of Indigenous education Brandon Curr told the NOW.
UNESCO Project Launch at University of Victoria for Indigenous Language
Net News Ledger – January 28, 2019
One of the biggest projects of its kind for the UN International Year of Indigenous Languages—a Language Revitalization Pole commissioned by the First Nations Education Foundation (FNEF)—will be located at the University of Victoria as a centrepiece of the year and a significant point of reflection for UVic’s ongoing commitment to the work of decolonizing and Indigenizing the university.
New music, art programs in Calgary set out to share Indigenous culture
CBC News – January 27, 2019
Blackfoot Elder Clarence Wolfleg from the Siksika Nation opens the workshop with a traditional prayer.The Indigenous Resilience in Music group launched the Isitsiipotaako music and art program this week at the Calgary Public Library.
The workshops and discussions focus on inspiring youth from diverse backgrounds through music.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/isitsiipotaako-calgary-1.4994037
Making medicine pouches kicks off year of Indigenous workshops
Soo Today – January 27, 2019
Kimberly Pelletier is teaching people how to make medicine pouches Saturday during a workshop that saw 30 registered participants – and more, counting a wave of others who dropped in throughout the day – make their own pouches during a one-day workshop at Algoma University.
‘There’s no quick fix’: Advice for teachers struggling to properly integrate Indigenous content into classes
CBC – January 27, 2019
When the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released their Calls to Action in 2015, many of them addressed education. More than three years later, school boards, divisions and administrators are still trying to implement more Indigenous outcomes within their curricula. But the majority of work falls on the teachers themselves — many of whom have little connection, knowledge or a clear framework to teach the material properly.
Youth film projects to explore history of northwestern Ontario First Nation
CBC News – January 26, 2019
In northwestern Ontario, a team of academics are taking previously gathered research about the history of Lac Seul First Nation, and putting it back in the hands of community members, by working with young people on film projects.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/lac-seul-research-lakehead-1.4987824
