1987 Native Education Policy Results

Preamble

On March 25, 1987, Alberta's Minister of Education introduced the Policy Statement on Native Education in Alberta to the Alberta Legislative Assembly. It was applauded and endorsed by both government and opposition members of the Assembly and was recognized as a positive statement of the government's commitment toward ensuring that Native children have the opportunity to benefit from an education which meets their needs. To achieve this the government determined that Alberta Education would support the development and delivery of programs and services that would:

• provide enhanced and equal opportunities for Native students to acquire the quality of education traditional in Alberta
• challenge Native students to learn and perform to the best of their ability
• provide opportunities for Native students to study and experience their own and other Native cultures and lifestyles
• provide opportunities for all students, Native and non-Native, in Alberta's schools to recognize and appreciate the various Native cultures and their many contributions to the province and society

The purpose of the policy was to ensure that all students, in all Alberta schools, were provided with curricular materials that gave a more balanced and positive view of Native people. At the same time, the policy encouraged the involvement of Native people in the education of their children.

Native Education Project

The department makes funds available for projects that contribute to the achievement of the policy objectives. In 1999/2000 funding for Native Education Projects was over $4 million. Native Education Project staff retain a monitoring function to ascertain that the funds are expended appropriately.

In order to achieve the goals set out in the Native Education Policy, the Native Education Project Branch within Alberta Education works closely with Native groups in the province. For example, the involvement Native people in the development of curriculum and learning resources has become standard practice. A wide variety of organizations have been involved including school jurisdictions, Metis Association Locals, some First Nations organizations, the Universities of Alberta and Calgary, individual authors, and private industry publishers, printers and graphic design companies.

Types of Projects Funded

The Native Education Project has established projects in four main areas. Each of these is discussed briefly in the following sections.

Native Personnel

Funds have been provided to provincial school jurisdictions with specific plans or programs that are designed to enhance appreciation and understanding of Native people. Many jurisdictions have hired Native staff to promote understanding and co-operation between provincial school jurisdictions and Native people. Native people are utilized to fill liaison, language instructor and counselor positions. Native parent committees were established to increase understanding and to ensure that Native people are involved in the education of their children.

Learning Resources

The writing and publication of materials and resources was, and continues to be, an important function of the Native Education Project. A curriculum development model was adopted which guaranteed that Native people would determine the form and content. The following is a list of the curricular materials that have been developed with the assistance of the Native Education Project. Most of these materials are suitable for the Social Studies programs or for Language Arts programs, although many teachers find them useful in other areas of the Program of Studies. It is important to note that these materials are approved for use in all Alberta schools, not just those with a high Native student population and that all the social studies resources fit specific units in the Alberta curriculum.

Native Language Development

The Native people of Alberta recognize that if their cultures are to be preserved, their children must learn to speak their Native languages. Accordingly the Native Education Project has been involved in a number of partnership arrangements with Language Services Branch and Native people designed to facilitate the development of Native language curricula and learning resources. Projects have been completed for the Cree and Blackfoot languages. These programs are available to all schools in Alberta and are approved for use and high school credit where applicable, by Alberta Education.

Native language learning resources are being developed and published for Cree 10, 20 and 30; Blackfoot 10, 20 and 30; and Siksika (Blackfoot) Language Series, Levels II and III. A Cree dictionary, University of Alberta/Alberta Cree Elders collaboration, was published in 1996. A video series designed to accompany Teaching Native Languages in High School/A Teacher Resource Manual has also been prepared.

Cultural Awareness

School jurisdictions receiving grants from the Native Education Project are encouraged to take part in cultural awareness workshops. In this way they are sensitized to the aspirations and goals of the Aboriginal peoples and are also given an opportunity to become more familiar with the culture and traditions of Native people. In addition, each school division with Aboriginal students is encouraged to make available cultural and linguistic opportunities for all of their students and to encourage participation in the school by Aboriginal groups and by the community in general. The Native Education Project is pleased to have been involved in the preparation of a number of resources designed to increase cultural awareness.

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