Aboriginal education 'in a state of crisis,' report says

Canada needs to make sweeping changes to the country's education system if it wants to fix soaring high school dropout rates among First Nations youth, according to a study by a Canadian public-policy think tank.In his report titled Dropouts: The Achilles' Heel of Canada's High-School System released yesterday, author John Richards of the C.D. Howe Institute said there are two main problems that must be dealt with. Read more>>

First Nations voice adds input on challenges in Aboriginal education

For the first time the provincial government and First Nation leaders will work together to improve the educational success of First Nation, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) students.On Oct. 13 the Government of Alberta announced the establishment of the FNMI Education Partnership Council. The objective of the collaboration is to increase educational opportunities and outcomes for Aboriginal learners and decrease the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal learners. Jaret Cardinal, Grand Chief of Treaty 8 and Sucker Creek First Nation is happy that Aboriginal leaders have a chance to have involvement and share ideas. Read more>>

Council targets education gaps

Three provincial ministers and the heads of Alberta's aboriginal communities formed a new partnership on Tuesday to address gaps in aboriginal education.
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Centre will welcome aboriginal students

A $3.6-million learning centre that will offer aboriginal students a feeling of home away from home is being built at Vancouver Island University.
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VIU facility designed to be a 'bridge between cultures'

A $3.6-million learning centre that will offer aboriginal students a feeling of home away from home is being built at Vancouver Island University. Based on a traditional pre-colonialism Coast Salish longhouse design, Phase 1 of the project is being built by 16 First Nations students enrolled in the school's aboriginal construction program.

The building will be known as Shq'apthut (the gathering place), said Sharon Hobenshield, VIU's director of aboriginal education. It is expected to be complete by next summer.The building will include a student lounge, an elders' lounge and office space for VIU's aboriginal student services department.

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Jobless youth, aboriginal education are focus of community foundations report

Concerns about young people, including the unemployed and aboriginal students who are at risk of dropping out of school, are a major focus of a report released Tuesday by Community Foundations of Canada. The Vital Signs report compiles statistics on subjects that help reflect the health and well-being of people in communities across the country.

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