Our Gifted Children Newsletter
May 13, 2020
Greetings. A new edition of Our Gifted Children Special Education Newsletter is out.
https://education.chiefs-of-ontario.org/upload/documents/final-our-gifted-children-spring2020.pdf
First Nation in B.C. not happy with school name compromise
May 21, 2020
A school in northern British Columbia was planning on changing its name to honour the area’s Indigenous history. But that name change received backlash from the community. In the end, the school board compromised leaving the First Nation community unhappy.
https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/first-nation-in-b-c-not-happy-with-school-name-compromise/
North Bay college lauded for Indigenous programming
May 19, 2020
Canadore College has been selected as the Gold Recipient of the CICan Indigenous Education Excellence Award. CICan, or Colleges and Institutes Canada, is a national association formed in 1972 to represent the interests of its member institutions to government and industry.
Nunavut communities finding work arounds to serve breakfast to students
May 20, 2020
Communities across the Nunavut territory are finding unique ways to help feeds students who would normally receive a meal in school. Seventy per cent of Nunavut Inuit school students go hungry at some point of the year – 25 per cent of them regularly. To help, Nunavut run breakfast programs and foodbanks to help but the COVID-19 pandemic closed those down. While Nunavut doesn’t have any positive cases of the virus, it still has restrictions in place. That forced people to find another way to help.
Bringing back dugout canoe culture, starting with students
May 20, 2020
In 2002, Frank Marchand says his dad asked him to talk to Lousie Gabriel, a respected elder in the Okanagan Nation. She told him, “I want you guys to bring the canoes back,” Marchand says. Marchand has been working on it. His late father, Gordon Marchand, was a master carver. While Frank doesn’t consider himself a master carver yet, he’s carved three dugout canoes for his own projects and helped build four others.
https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/bringing-back-dugout-canoe-culture-starting-with-students/
Ontario to keep all schools closed through the end of June
May 19, 2020
Ontario schools will remain closed to in-class instruction this academic year even as the government moves to restart parts of the economy, with plans to open daycares and day camps later in the summer.
It’s official — Yukon College is now Yukon University
May 19, 2020
It’s official — Canada now has a university north of 60. Yukon College, based in Whitehorse, has made the transition to a full-fledged, degree-granting university. It’s been in the works for years. “It’s about the maturation of the territory and the North in Canada. It’s time for Canada to recognize that the North can take charge of its own destiny,” said Karen Barnes, the university’s president, on Tuesday.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-university-official-launch-1.5575655
Assisting the Indigenous youth community through art
May 14, 2020
Neechee Studio is a studio led by emerging Indigenous artists that provides free art workshops for young Indigenous people. These workshops are made available for youth aged 14 – 30.
Why on-the-land educators see opportunity in a global pandemic
May 19, 2020
Most students can identify with the feeling of looking wistfully out a classroom window on a sunny spring day. But for students in northern Canada, where so much of life revolves around being on the land, there’s something extra painful about being trapped inside in springtime.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/on-the-land-education-covid-19-1.5571602
Premier should have recognized Indigenous Peoples’ history on province’s 150th birthday, professor says
May 13, 2020
Manitoba’s history is Indigenous history, and it shouldn’t have been left out of the premier’s official address on the province’s 150th birthday, says an associate professor in the University of Manitoba’s Native studies department.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/pallister-150-birthday-address-criticism-1.5567585
Students can apply for COVID-19 emergency aid beginning Friday
May 13, 2020
Post-secondary students eligible for COVID-19 emergency aid can apply for the benefit starting Friday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed the date for opening the $9-billion program this morning during his daily briefing. He advised claimants to sign up for an account on the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website to ensure the process moves as quickly as possible.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/students-covid19-aid-1.5567701
Wiikwemkoong educator offers free online Anishinaabemowin classes
May 14, 2020
Wiikwemkoong educator Isadore Toulouse is delivering free online Anishinaabemowin classes seven days a week at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. with special guests, including Shirley Williams, Pat Osawamick and Liz Osawamick.
A brief history of Ontario’s First Nations Public Libraries
May 12, 2020
The smallest First Nations Public Library (FNPL) I’ve heard of consists of two shelves. Yes, two shelves, not stacks. Michipicoten First Nation has a fnpl and fewer than 75 on-reserve residents. The largest fnpl is the Six Nations Public Library, where I am the CEO and director of library services; it houses a collection of close to 40,000 items. Yet, despite this collection’s size, two-thirds of that material sits in a shipping container in the parking lot because there is no physical room to store it. Regardless of size, there are many trials and tribulations which this group of libraries experiences.
https://this.org/2020/05/12/a-brief-history-of-ontarios-first-nations-public-libraries/
Manitoba First Nations share what back-to-school could look like next fall
May 12, 2020
It’s not likely schools on Manitoba First Nations will reopen before the fall, but a number of communities are planning what back-to-school might look like in response to COVID-19. In Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, 130 km northwest of Winnipeg, it won’t be a simple task.
Edmonton artist creates online show to teach children about Indigenous culture
May 12, 2020
Lance Cardinal wanted a way to keep his nieces and nephews busy while they stayed at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since he couldn’t be with his family in northern Alberta, the Edmonton-based artist, who has designed sets and props, acted and painted, decided to use his talents to create a kids show for his family. But the artist from Bigstone Cree Nation wanted the online show, which he called Family Art Adventures, to feature more than just a craft tutorial.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/edmonton-artist-creates-online-show-013000472.html
Cole Pauls wrote an action-packed comic to help preserve Indigenous language
May 08, 2020
Two Earth Protectors are charged with saving the planet from evil pioneers and cyborg sasquatches in Dakwäkãda Warriors. The comic, which incorporates a blend of English and Southern Tutchone, serves as an allegory for colonialism.
New book has strong northern Ontario connections
May 09,2020
A new book featuring 17 stories from within the indigenous community has just been released by a Sudbury publishing company. Anishinaabe writer and filmmaker Darlene Naponse of the Atikameksheng First Nation put the call out for stories and poems about the community. Naponse gathered a collection of 17 Indigenous stories from voices across the region and has published a book titled “Before the Usual Time.”
https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/new-book-has-strong-northern-ontario-connections-1.4932361
Nunavut premier apologizes for remark about teachers
May 07, 2020
Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq has apologized to teachers who work in the territory’s schools for saying they are easily replaceable. Last week, Savikataaq said that any one leaving the territory voluntarily would now have to pay for their two week isolation period when they returned.
https://aptnnews.ca/2020/05/07/nunavut-premier-apologizes-for-remark-about-teachers/
