/* Written 12:04 pm Jul 12, 1993 by newsdesk@igc.apc.org in igc:ips.english */
/* ---------- "CANADA: Education called key to nat" ---------- */
Copyright 1993 InterPress Service, all rights reserved.
Worldwide distribution via the APC networks.
CANADA: Education called key to native people's future
ottawa, jul 9 (ips) - canada's native peoples must win back
control of their education system as part of their push for self-
determination, speakers at a government hearing on canada's
relationship with aboriginal peoples said today.
the royal commission on aboriginal peoples spent three days here
learning about nationwide efforts to replace centuries of
eurocentric education with a form of learning native students can
identify with.
''in order to break the cycle of colonialism, we need to teach
our children about a way of life we almost lost,'' said mary
courchene, principal of children of the earth, a native high
school in winnipeg.
''in social studies, our student learn aboriginal history and
cultures. in language arts, they read books by and about
aboriginal people. we teach the values of caring and sharing and
respect,'' she said.
many participants said education funding must go directly to
aboriginal communities so there could be more schools like
children of the earth. there was wide support for the idea of a
national aboriginal university in canada.
the royal commission is examining all aspects of the relationship
between native peoples and canada, and is expected to lay out a
new framework for future cooperation in a report due out next
year.
but participants at the education sessions said the commission's
work must go beyond political prescriptions such as native self-
government and deal with underlying cultural, social and personal
issues.
one obvious need, said attendees, is an education system that
respects the native culture, languages and traditions that
government and church schools have tried for centuries to
obliterate. the loss of native culture is seen as major cause of
the epidemic of youth suicides in aboriginal communities.
''what i was taught about my own people when i went to schools
was not very positive, to say the least,'' said allen gabriel, an
official with the commission.
one school in the tydendinaga territory is trying to help native
peoples develop a more positive self-image. students there are
taught entirely in the mohawk language from nursery school to
grade six. (more/ips)
canada: education called key to native people's future(2)
canada: native peoples (2)
dorothy lazore, a mohawk language teacher at the school, reported
that students ''had a strong, confident native identity and they
like to come to school.'' she admitted, though, that some parents
have doubts about the school's approach.
''they have many questions. how fluent will the children become?
will they reach an adequate level of proficiency in both mohawk
and english? how can i help, my children with their homework if i
don't speak mohawk myself? how will learning their native language
help the children get a job?'' said lazore.
but language is just one part of native education. elder noel
knockwood said the structures and underlying attitudes of native
education are fundamentally different from the mainstream school
system.
for instance, what might be called ''cheating'' in a competitive
european style school could be seen as a form of mutual help
between students in a native school.
and swearing in a classroom would not be considered an offense
because it is impossible in native languages to use the name of
the creator in vain. curricula would also change to reflect the
native view of botany, mathematics, and science, says knockwood.
while much of the royal commission's focus was on restoring
native traditions, that is only half the challenge.
the prospect of self-government also makes it crucial for native
people in canada to acquire western skills as the basis of
economic self-sufficiency. native nations will remain dependent on
outsiders if their people are not trained as professionals to
serve their communities, the commission was told.
''there is an urgent need for health care professionals in our
communities,''' said jean goodwill, chair of the aboriginal public
health workers section of the canadian public health association.
''in order to be served by our own health professional, we need
to be able to enhance their knowledge in western science, but also
to enhance their knowledge of traditional approaches to
medicine,'' she said. (more/ips)
canada: education called key to native people's future(3-e)
canada: native peoples (3)
but training native peoples in science, mathematics, and new
technology is difficult, since many live in small remote
communities far away from specialists and experts.
isaac mabindisa, a professor of native studies at athabacca
university, believes the problem can be overcome with new
technologies such as electronic mail that can bring communities
and educators together.
''people must think about forming regional consortia, they must
pool their resources,'' he said.
while mabindisa looked to a high-tech future, some speakers
warned against leaving behind the traditions of the past.
''it's the gifts of the first nations traditions that are the keys
to our success,'' said deanna nyce, district principal of the
aboriginal school board in british columbia.
''my grandfather spoke seven languages. it's these capabilities,
these gifts, which will serve us in the future,'' nyce said.
----
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