Welcome to the Learning Track
Aboriginal Peoples in Canada are beginning to close the education gap that exists between the First Nations and non-Natives. In the mid-1960s, there were about 200 status Indian students enrolled at Canadian colleges and universities. By 1999, the number had soared to more than 27, 000.
There’s also an exploding Aboriginal population. According to StatsCan says by 2017 Aboriginals will comprise about 4.1 percent of the country’s overall population. Between 1951 and 2001, the Aboriginal population grew sevenfold, while the Canadian population as a whole only doubled’, according to the 2001 Census: analysis series, Aboriginal peoples of Canada: A demographic profile by Statistics Canada.
However, despite the growing Aboriginal population and its educational achievements, Aboriginal peoples continue to face unique challenges. “When accounting for inflation and population growth, the value of the federal government’s contribution to the PSSSP (Post-Secondary Student Support Program) and other support programs has not been increased meaningfully since the mid-1990s,” the Canadian Federation of Students says in its Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education 2004 Fact Sheet. The Federation also suggests, “The rights of Aboriginal peoples to self-governance extends to control over the educational process.” This process, they say, is best reflected in Aboriginal led institutions like the First Nations University of Canada, and includes helping Aboriginal instructors, students and Elders develop curricula based on the needs of Aboriginal students.
And First Nations Technical Institute in Tyendinaga is doing that as well, through its many programs. Its mission statement is “…to provide respectful, holistic learning opportunities and experiences that enhance the capacity of First Nations people to regain control over their social, political, cultural and economic future.” And its motto is “Sharing and Learning.”
That’s just how Aboriginal people learn, through sharing and learning along the way, and the way is not always in institutional settings. Aboriginal peoples are re-learning their languages, cultures and looking at their histories as they move forward.
The Learning Track is written by students in the Aboriginal Media Program at FNTI. In this on-line edition of The Learning Track, you will find stories that reflect some of the struggles faced by Aboriginal adult learners, and of communities retaining their language. You will see how Aboriginal peoples have had to overcome racist government policy to get where they’re at today.
First Nations people are taking leaps and bounds to bring awareness to the Canadian public, shedding light on ugly realities to make a difference and make change. In telling these stories about Aboriginal learning, the writers have used different story-telling techniques in a variety of media. Have a look and email your comments to brantb@fnti.net.
- Jennifer Ashawasegai, The Learning Track's Managing Editor
Mainstream system doesn't fit adult student or her children
My family and I have all been through struggles in the education system that was, and is, available for us.
The reality of how different I was in the system hit me when I was in high school.
Some First Nation students, such as myself, found life on the academic road to a high school diploma was a constant struggle. My holistic needs were not being met. I was not staying interested in the western world view and I got down right frustrated with the content I was receiving from the curriculum from the province of Ontario. Go to story...
Secondary funding not enough in Golden Lake (See the video)
The Canadian government has a fiduciary responsibility to First Nations
across Canada as well as signed treaties promising to support Aboriginal
education.
Unfortunately, federal funding has not kept pace with the large numbers
of people continuing to post-secondary education.
One example is a student from the Algonquins of Pikwakanagon, Golden Lake First Nation, in Ontario. Chantelle Hubert had to get a part-time job in order to continue as a full-time student in a three-year Office Administration Executive program through Algonquin College.
Aimee Bailey, the Golden Lake post secondary counsellor, says students struggle to attain their education because funding has not increased in 20 years. The cost of living has increased of course and many students are now put on a waiting list in order to receive funding.
Flying high, as a pilot in training (See the video)
Seeing a friend airlifted by helicopter to hospital tweaked Tami Beland’s
interest in becoming a pilot. At the time she was studying to become a
police officer.
Now she is looking at the world from a different perspective as an aviation
student in the Aviation Diploma Program at First Nations Technical Institute,
Tyendinaga, Ont.
Upon completion of the program Beland will be a certified professional
pilot.
Homeschooling, the best choice (See the video)
Victoria Green, a 15-year old from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, is not your average adolescent. She home schools and presently is in grade 10. Green lives on a farm and is taught good work ethics by her parents Shawn and Charmaine. Her dream is to be a jockey when she graduates in a couple of years.
