Anishinabek News – September 20, 2017
SUDBURY – The external view is spectacular: encompassing the university campus, the lakes of the south end, the Idylwylde Golf Course, Nishnaabe-gkendaaswin Teg has a bird’s eye view of the lay of the land. The internal view of Nishnaabe-gkendaaswin Teg at the University of Sudbury will depend on who seeks to spend time under its red roof and before its fire. The arbour is open to all who seek knowledge and quiet times of reflection under its boughs of Manitoulin cedar, Douglas fir and its heavy metal red roof.
Birchbark Canoe Builder at Work at Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough
The Peterborough Examiner – September 19, 2017
One of Canada’s few remaining birchbark canoe makers will be constructing his craft at the Canadian Canoe Museum for the next two weeks. Chuck Commanda, 57, is building a 16-foot traditional Kitigan-Zibi-style birchbark canoe. He started working on the boat in the museum’s gallery on Monday, unrolling the birchbark to stretch it across a long table. Commanda is from Kitigan-Zibi, Que., about 390 kilometres northeast of Peterborough. He was introduced to canoe making at a young age, helping his grandparents to first craft a canoe when he was just 10 years old.
New Program to Offer Support to Indigenous Students
The Globe and Mail – September 19, 2017
The program, launching Wednesday at Vancouver Island University (VIU) and Yukon College, is the first of its kind in Canada. Enhanced support includes not only financial assistance with tuition, textbooks and living allowance, but also emotional, cultural and spiritual support by bringing Indigenous culture to the forefront, said Chris DaSilva, director of learning and leadership at the Rideau Hall Foundation, which is chaired by Canada’s Governor-General and is helping to fund the program.
Publisher of School Exercise Book Apologizes for Racially Charged Language CBC Indigenous – September 18, 2017 “We understand the importance of including Indigenous expertise and voices to better reflect Indigenous experiences, wrote Magie Wolfe, the publisher of Second Story Press. “We are committed to making that an integral part of our editorial processes going forward.” Shawna Davis, the Indigenous mother of a 14 year-old Grade 9 student who attends school in Vancouver, first tweeted out a photo of the exercise on Sept. 15. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/publisher-pulls-racially-charged-school-book-1.4295315
Persistence Key to Keeping Language ‘Even with Mistakes,’ says Sask. Elder
CBC Indigenous – September 18, 2017
“He told us we’ll never forget our language, it’s always in our hearts,” Yuzicapi said. “It’s up to us to bring it out, nobody can’t do it for us. So, however we learn, even with mistakes in our words, we gotta keep going like that.”
New Education Money for Saugeen First Nations Students
Shoreline Beacon – September 11, 2017
“The Cottagers made donations through their organization and the Fund also took advantage of matching funds made available by the Foundation to meet the needs of students furthering their education,” Reid said in a Sept. 5 telephone interview, adding the Foundation transfers the funds to the SFN Band office and the Band is in the process of publicizing the grant program. http://www.shorelinebeacon.com/2017/09/11/new-education-money-for-saugeen-first-nations-students
Northern Schools Lead on Reconciliation
Catholic Register – September 10, 2017
In the Kenora Catholic District School Board, where about 30 percent of the students self-identify as First Nations, efforts to bring Aboriginal perspectives into the classroom have been taking place for close to two decades. “Our role, being in northwestern Ontario, was to take a bit of a lead in that because of our high Aboriginal population,” said Phyllis Eikre, Kenora Catholic’s director of education. “We are in an area that was highly populated by residential schools so we have that history behind us.”
https://www.catholicregister.org/item/26007-northern-schools-lead-on-reconciliation
