NAFC Youth Delegates Representing Canada’s Urban Aboriginal Youth at 13th Annual UN International Day of Peace Events in New York City.

National Association of Friendship Centres Aboriginal Youth Council (AYC) delegates attending the International Day of Peace events at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

AYC President Kody Taylor of Riverton, Manitoba and Vice President Andrea Landry of Nanimo, British Columbia will represent Canada’s urban Aboriginal youth at the 13th Annual International Day of Peace Student Conference and Peace Bell Ceremony being held at the UN Headquarters.

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Gains in aboriginal entrepreneurship impeded by youth-education issues

From airline companies and construction firms to wineries and technology consulting outfits, aboriginal entrepreneurship is thriving like never before, paralleling rapid population growth and rising educational levels. However, native leaders say the renaissance on reserves is hampered by an array of socioeconomic barriers and a lack of outside assistance.

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Indigenous programs soar at University of Victoria

Eleven drummers beat furiously on a large drum as they chanted a song of welcome. Elegantly carved eagles, orcas (killer whales), frogs and bears looked down from eight posts around the edge of the large room. An overflow crowd filled the ceremonial hall of the First Peoples House, a stunning new building that establishes a powerful aboriginal presence in the heart of the University of Victoria campus in British Columbia.

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Government of Canada Supports Research on Inuit Leadership and Governance

Iqaluit, Nunavut, August 30, 2010 — Today, the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), announced the Government of Canada’s support for a comprehensive six-year research and training project on Inuit leadership and governance. This project will for the first time create a recorded history of Canada’s Inuit leadership and develop training for future Inuit leaders.

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Historic Partnership Signed to Support First Nation Students in Prince Edward Island

The Government of Canada, the Government of Prince Edward Island and the Mi'kmaq First Nations of Prince Edward Island have signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on education. The MOU will support the province's First Nation learners from early childhood through to post-secondary education. The Memorandum of Uunderstanding provides a common vision for the educational success of Mi'kmaq learners, supporting them in reaching their full learning potential.

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Carleton University Announces New Initiatives

This year, Carleton will be offering a full week of orientation activities to participants in the university’s unique Aboriginal Enriched Support Program (AESP.) The AESP provides comprehensive student support such as admissions assistance, advising, mentoring, academic workshops and one-on-one coaching. Students take three credits, including an Aboriginal issues first-year seminar.

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Aboriginal sports get boost: AFN touts program to support communities

The Assembly of First Nations wants to keep more kids in the classroom and out of trouble with a major sports programming initiative announced Sunday morning at the University of Winnipeg.

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NWAC welcomes applications for the 2010 Helen Bassett Commemorative Student Award prized at $1,000

The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is pleased to announce it will now be accepting applications for the 2010 Helen Bassett Commemorative Student Award. Prized at $1,000 the award will be granted to four young Aboriginal women in Canada who are pursuing their post secondary studies.

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Health and science camp offers a hands-on experience

Camp students took part in seven interactive sessions offered by the Pre-Health Professions Club at the Four Directions Community Health Centre.

The club partners with post-secondary institutions, school divisions, First Nations and Metis communities, health regions and practising health-care professionals to provide learning opportunities beyond the classroom.

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Government of Canada partners to provide Northern youth science, engineering and technology skills

Iqaluit, (Nunavut), July 14, 2010 – Youth across the North’s three territories will benefit from science, engineering, and technology skills workshops this summer thanks to an investment from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. The camps will be delivered by Actua, an organization which provides kids programs designed to inspire young people to pursue careers in the sciences.

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Working for a Healthier North: First Northern Medical Program Grads Become “Real” Doctors

“I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was six. This is a dream come true for me.” Those were the words used by Jennifer Parker upon opening her own family practice in Fort St John. This is Dr. Parker’s first full week as a practicing physician and she is joined by 12 others who were in the first graduating class of the Northern Medical Program (NMP) and recently completed residencies in family practice. They are the first to fulfill the promise of the NMP: to increase the number of doctors in the North by training them here.
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Native youth receive hands-on practice

Health care: Learning to deliver babies with the use of a robot is part of a pilot project designed as an introduction to medicine

Eight teenage girls helped deliver eight babies — actually one robot baby from one robot mom eight times — as part of a pilot project that tries to bring First Nations and rural students into medicine.

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U of A group targets more northern students with culturally-driven message

Members of the Aboriginal Health Group at the University of Alberta are hoping that $137,740 in funding from Health Canada will allow them to reach more elementary and junior high aged students in northern Alberta this fall and convince them to stay away from tobacco.

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Aboriginal university graduates honored

Within the extravagant and exciting atmosphere of the Whitecap Dakota Dunes Casino, Aboriginal graduates were honored at a banquet on June 5, after finishing a variety of post-secondary programs at the University of Saskatchewan.
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Indigenous Studies pays tribute to Peter George

A scholarship established at Six Nations Polytechnic in Peter George's name was among the gifts the President received during a heartfelt send-off held by the Indigenous Studies Program (ISP) earlier this week at the University Club.

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Roberta Jamieson to appear before Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples Study on K-12 First Nation On-Reserve Education

Roberta Jamieson, President and CEO of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation will, appear before the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples in Ottawa Tuesday, June 15 at 9:30 a.m.

Ms. Jamieson will lay out the Foundation’s response to the tragic crisis of so few First Nations, Inuit and Métis students going on to high school and graduating as compared to non-aboriginal students. However, she will also draw the Committee’s attention to the fact that for those who do graduate, there are not enough sufficient financial resources available so they can obtain post-secondary and trades training.

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New project brings music and mentors to Aboriginal youth

Bonnyville... Improving self-esteem among Aboriginal youth through music and mentorship is the goal of a new three-year Safe Communities pilot project.

Supported by the Alberta government and involving a variety of community partners, the Cold Lake Music Factory pilot project is designed to help at-risk Aboriginal youth experience success, improve self-esteem, build confidence, and develop team work and other job-related skills.

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Aboriginal paramedic and pilot students at Confederation College will soon be eligible for an endowment fund to help them through their studies.

“As a crucial provider of transport medicine services to many Aboriginal communities in northern Ontario, Ornge is proud to provide financial support to the students that represent them,” said Dr. Christopher Mazza, president and CEO of Ornge, which partnered with AgustaWestland to develop the Ornge-AgustaWestland Endowment Fund for Aboriginal Learners.

“With this award, we will empower Aboriginal students to be future leaders in aviation and paramedical services, sharing our mission to deliver excellent patient care throughout the province.”

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Language preservation is now a click, drag away

An Ontario First Nation has incorporated modern technology to help preserve some of the oldest Indigenous languages in Canada’s history.

Sagamok First Nation has teamed up with a simulation software company to produce a program that is designed to archive Aboriginal languages, while being an interactive teaching tool for everyone from young children to their parents.

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Education deans and Indigenous groups endorse new accord on education

Canada’s deans of education are sending a powerful message to their faculties. They’ve come together to endorse a vision of indigenous education that they hope will spark a sea change on campuses across the country.

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