The Peterborough Examiner – November 1, 2017
The plans teach literacy and Canadian history, with a focus on Indigenous history, using Ontario’s curriculum. Mr. Downie, the lead singer of The Tragically Hip, created Secret Path. It includes a 10-track album and an animated film and graphic novel illustrated by Jeff Lemire. Secret Path was Mr. Downie’s last undertaking. He died of brain cancer Oct. 17. Mr. Downie’s work was inspired by the story of Chanie Wenjack, a 12-year-old Indigenous boy who died on his walk home after escaping an Ontario Indian residential school in the 1960s (Trent University’s Wenjack Theatre is named in his memory).
New Lessons to Boost Indigenous Knowledge in Classroom
St. Albert Gazette – November 1, 2017
Teachers have a critical role in helping students understand reconciliation, and it’s tough to do that when many teachers don’t know Canada’s Indigenous history themselves, Eggen said at Calgary’s Dr. Martha Cohen School. “Today we can embed the true history of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit into the education experience of every student,” Eggen said. “We will break down barriers and continue to build understanding and work to make sure that every child in Alberta and all teachers and support workers have an enhanced learning experience to advance reconciliation.”
https://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/new-lessons-boost-indigenous-knowledge-classroom-20171101
Contest Seeks to Connect Students with Veterans’ Stories
Manitoulin Expositor – November 1, 2017
WIIKWEMKOONG—Canadian veterans sacrificed a lot when they enlisted in Canada’s military services to fight for their country, but none more so than Anishinaabe volunteers. Many young Anishinaabe do not know about those sacrifices, but a Wiikwemkoong woman came up with an innovative way to bridge that knowledge gap.
http://www.manitoulin.ca/2017/11/01/contest-seeks-connect-students-veterans-stories/
Preserving and Protecting Endangered Indigenous Languages
APTN – October 31, 2017
Nearly, three-quarters of all Indigenous languages are endangered in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has vowed to preserve, protect and revitalize Indigenous languages. Member of Parliament Arif Virani has been tasked with ensuring that happens. As the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Virani is currently taking part in meetings with Indigenous languages practitioners, experts and community members as he works to help implement the Indigenous Languages Act.
http://aptnnews.ca/2017/10/31/face-to-face-languages/
Reconciliation Leader, Astronomy Educator Round Out 2nd Group of Future 40 Finalists
CBC News – October 31, 2017
CBC Manitoba’s second set of 2017 Future 40 finalists includes the leader of the University of Manitoba’s Truth and Reconciliation Centre, three women making waves in astronomy, community health and genomics, and six other Manitoba change-makers. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/cbc-manitoba-future-40-2017-1.4375547
Lakehead University Chosen for Study to Reduce Student Hunger
TB News Watch – October 30, 2017
In an interview with tbnewswatch.com, Levkoe said it was shocking to hear that a national student hunger study last year revealed that 46 per cent of Lakehead students had some degree of food insecurity, and that 15 per cent had a severe rate of food insecurity. For Indigenous students, he said, the rate would be even higher. “That’s not just a sad reality, but it also has a huge impact on students’ ability to study, and just to live on a day-to-day basis.” https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/lakehead-university-chosen-for-study-to-reduce-student-hunger-752833
Grand Chief Congratulates Kelly Crawford, Education Director for the Anishinabek Education System
Anishinabek News – October 30, 2017
“Kelly Crawford is an excellent choice to lead our exciting education initiative towards fulfilling our dream of education for our Anishinabek children under Anishinabek authority,” says Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee. In a statement release today from the Kinoomaadziwin Education Body, The Director of Education is responsible for the operations and delivery of the Anishinabek Education System to the Participating First Nations. The Director of Education is responsible for policy implementation and administration by providing vision, leadership, planning, execution, advocacy, and coordination of the AES.
Dalhousie University Student Slams ‘anti-Canadian’ Motion
CBC News – October 30, 2017
A student at Dalhousie University is speaking out against what she calls an “anti-Canadian” motion passed by the school’s student union, saying it has ignited racial tensions on campus. Mehak Saini said Monday she’s standing up for voices silenced during an acrimonious debate that engulfed the Halifax university after the student union pulled out of Canada 150 celebrations in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples.
Shoebox Project Helps Indigenous Youth
The Sudbury Star – October 29, 2017
I Love First Peoples will be launching its annual gift-filled shoebox project in various communities across Canada, including Greater Sudbury, on Nov. 1. Individuals, schools and community groups across Canada can adopt the project as a gesture of friendship that helps the students who receive them to celebrate the joy of education.
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/10/29/shoebox-project-helps-indigenous-youth
Indigenous Education Week
University of Toronto News – October 27, 2017
New this year is an Elders’ Gathering that will open Indigenous Education Week on Monday. Elders from a variety of communities and experiences will share traditional teachings at First Nations House Lounge, including members of U of T’s Elders’ Circle – a group that meets regularly discuss and consult on a variety of topics and issues at the university. The Elders will share traditional teachings about land, language and methodologies, says Blight. “I think those things will be really useful to anyone who comes to listen. It’s a really good starting point for understanding Indigenous knowledge,” she says.
Symposium on Indigenous Education Wraps up in Thunder Bay
CBC News – October 27, 2017
The two-day conference gathered 120 higher education professionals from colleges across the country to discuss how to best implement Indigenous learning practices. “We expect that the symposium will help us move forward in advancing Indigenous education and training at colleges all across the country,” said S. Brenda Small, vice president, of the centre for policy and research in Indigenous learning at Confederation College.
Northwestern Ontario Students Teach Kids in the South About Indigenous Culture
CBC News – October 26, 2017
“We thought, how can we actually learn about the Indigenous people and what they’re going through?” said Patriza Bortoluzzi, a teacher librarian at Theresa Catholic School and St. Matthew The Evangelist Catholic School in Whitby, Ont. The classes from Theresa and St. Matthew schools started a program to communicate with another Grade 3 class at Marjorie Mills Public School in Longlac, Ont., which has an over 80 per cent Indigenous student population. The three classes communicate over padlet, an app that allows the classes to post on a virtual bulletin board. Students ask each other questions like what language do you speak? Where do you go on field trips? And is it cold there?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/inquiry-classroom-1.4370868
Wolfman Shares Indigenous Cooking Skills with Students
The Brandon Sun – October 26, 2017
“I strategically wanted to utilize Indigenous products as the main component, and fuse it with our Indigenous cousins from the east, west, south and the north, or international flavours … So for example, curried caribou and pastry, and elk short ribs done in a French style, slow braised with sour cherries,” Wolfman said. “We wanted to keep the stories and the foods from our Indigenous people … although some of these traditional foods have become extinct in our culture, the ones that are still here I’m keeping them alive by modernizing them to make them contemporary and fun.”
Thousands of Students Gather at Event Showcasing their Ideas for Future
CBC News – October 26, 2017
“Today’s idea is to get New Brunswick middle and high school students thinking differently about New Brunswick, and thinking more critically about their place within it, and how they might help to solve some of our problems,” said Lisa Hrabluk, the organizer of the event. Among the keynotes from youth was St. Stephen High School’s. A group of students there are creating a documentary on plastic water bottles to encourage people to use tap water more. “I think we really hope to get more schools involved in what we’re trying to do,” student Samuel Poirier said after the presentation.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/my-150-youth-event-1.4373788
