Common Threads
Common Threads V – Volunteers Wanted
Aboriginal Perspectives in Education
As the original inhabitants of Canada, First Nation, Métis and Inuit people have a variety of inherent Aboriginal and treaty rights. Since the history of Canada begins with them, Aboriginal peoples are unique in Canada’s mosaic. These rights however, have often been denied by governments or misunderstood by the majority in society or by the media. Our education system has also had difficulty in adapting to meet the needs of Aboriginal students.
For all of these reasons, the fifth Common Threads Project will be a departure from the previous format of travelling overseas and researching a topic leading to a better understanding of how global citizens can tackle a common problem. We propose to produce a resource which will resonate with students and educators and address a number of challenges faced by Aboriginal communities in Canada.
The material will explore the various issues in a cross curricular format providing background context and examples of successful strategies to overcome these challenges. Travel will include trips to various First Nations or Métis communities and schools in Southern and Northern Ontario.
The Common Threads team will work with members of our OSSTF/FEESO Aboriginal Education Work Group and will consult widely with respected organizations within the Aboriginal communities.