Aboriginal Learning|Autochtones

CCL no longer funding knowledge centres

On April 6, 2009, as one of several restructuring measures, CCL announced that it would no longer be funding its five knowledge centres as of July 6, 2009.

CCL deeply appreciates the valuable work and expertise that knowledge centre staff and consortium members have contributed. Every effort will be made to ensure that the high quality work of the knowledge centres continues to be distributed as widely as possible.

About Us

The Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre, is composed of a Consortium and a National Advisory Committee of more than 80 organizations and individuals from across the country working together to create a path for the improvement of Aboriginal learning in Canada.

A Steering Committee composed mainly of members from the Consortium and National Advisory Committee provides leadership and direction to the Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre.

The Lead Organizations for the Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre are two key national institutions that have a rich and relevant knowledge base from which this centre will evolve: the Aboriginal Education Research Centre at the University of Saskatchewan and the First Nations Adult and Higher Education Consortium.


About the Aboriginal Education Research Centre

The Aboriginal Education Research Centre (AERC) at the University of Saskatchewan emerged as a response to the College of Education’s desire to create and coordinate research activity concerning First Nations, Métis and Inuit education. Established as the number one developmental priority in the College of Education’s 2003-2007 Integrated Plan, AERC seeks to achieve the following goals:

  • Research and study the needs of Aboriginal student populations, successful pedagogy and practices, and experimental methods to assist in shaping future policy and directions of provincial and band schools;
  • Improve the educational capacity of schools to retain and meet the needs of Aboriginal students, while improving the knowledge and sensitivity of other students and school staff to Aboriginal Peoples;
  • Develop supportive partnerships with Aboriginal communities, Elders, institutions and organizations;
  • Build local and Canadian capacity to value and learn from the knowledge and educational practices of diverse Aboriginal Peoples;
  • Mobilize knowledge and practices among educational institutions through dialogues, conferences, publications and electronic resources on Aboriginal education;
  • Develop research activities as decolonizing sites to improve Indigenous education across disciplines, across Canada and internationally;
  • Dialogue with Aboriginal communities to develop collaborative protocols and practices for ethical research, learning and teaching;
  • Support and enrich graduate students and faculty in scholarly interests and research in Aboriginal education;
  • Create local, provincial, national and international partnerships with other pre-eminent universities and groups.

AERC offers synergistic activity around Aboriginal education through respectful dialogues with representatives of diverse Aboriginal organizations and communities.  Collaborative partnerships include scholars, students, Elders, and others who wish to address transformative educational theory, policies, practices and praxis. AERC activities are intended to improve education experiences of Aboriginal Peoples, as well as broaden research capacity in the College of Education.

Dr. Marie Battiste, Mi’kmaq, is the Academic Director of AERC.  Supported by Yvonne Vizina, Métis, Associate Director, AERC is proud to be a co-lead of the Canadian Council on Learning’s Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre.

 
Co-lead of CCL’s Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre recipient of National Aboriginal Achievement Award

The Canadian Council on Learning is proud to announce that Dr. Marie Battiste, co-director of the Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre, is one of 14 people to be honoured by the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation for their outstanding contribution to the lives of Aboriginal Peoples across Canada.

Dr. Battiste who is Mi'kmaq from the Potlo'tek First Nations of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, is being recognized for her achievements in the field of education about which she has written many books, essays and research papers that have helped create a new legacy in educational thought and practice.

She received her award at the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards 2008 on March 7, 2008 at the Sony Centre in Toronto.


About the First Nations Adult Higher Education Consortium

The First Nations Adult Higher Education Consortium (FNAHEC) is composed of ten Indigenous colleges and institutional members in the provinces of Alberta and Manitoba.  FNAHEC is founded on the premise that it is First Nations people’s own infrastructures and mechanisms that will comprehensively address the development needs of constituent First Nations through the promotion and enhancement of respective cultures. 

Since the founding of FNAHEC, members have collectively or individually established linkages and partnerships with Aboriginal groups and various other agencies and institutions (both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) that focus on Aboriginal learning.  FNAHEC has also reached out to establish relationships and affiliations at the international level, for example with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium and with the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium and its Board of Affirmation (Accreditation). 

Members of FNAHEC have been directly involved in education conferences and other major Aboriginal events.  For example, FNAHEC hosted the 6th World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE) in 2002, which was attended by 3,500 people from 26 countries.  These various initiatives have contributed to the design and implementation of programs, courses and services to address some of the remaining gaps identified. 

Members of FNAHEC have also taken the civic responsibility to offer a wide range of workshops and seminars which address the needs of all learners, including Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal learners.  It is important to FNAHEC that the initiatives of the Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre mesh with those of FNAHEC as a vehicle for knowledge exchange, when promoting standards of excellence and also when contributing to the effective resolution of Aboriginal learning issues.  As such, the Knowledge Centre’s strategic plan reflects the objectives toward which FNAHEC strives.

Directed by Dr. Vivian Ayoungman from the Siksika Nation, FNAHEC is honoured to be the co-lead of CCL’s Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre.

 

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 Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre, Who we are Centre du savoir sur l’apprentissage chez les Autochtones, Qui sommes-nous The Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre, is composed of a Consortium  and a National Advisory Committee of more than 80 organizations and individuals from across the country working together to create a path for the improvement of Aboriginal learning in Canada Le consortium et Comité consultatif national du Centre du savoir sur l’apprentissage chez les Autochtones rassemble plus de 80 membres de partout au Canada comprenant des représentants des peuples des Premières Nations, Métis et Inuits.