Promising Practices

Issue I
December 2009

Exemplary Classroom Practice
Elementary Education
Aboriginal Curriculum Integration Project (ACIP)
The intent of the Aboriginal Curriculum Integration Project (ACIP) is to raise the profile of Aboriginal people in the curriculum. One of the goals is to present well developed curriculum that enhances student learning through high levels of engagement and accountability. ACIP is committed to honouring the values, cultures and perspectives of British Columbia's Aboriginal people. The knowledge derived from local Aboriginal experts will be valued and utilized respectfully. The resources provided by ACIP are meant to reflect the diverse nature of the Aboriginal people of British Columbia and be authentically reflective of the knowledge, culture, and history of Aboriginal people.

Focus: Grade 7 and 8 English

Summary: A compilation of Grade 7 English lessons with accompanying oral and video clips. The lessons are aligned with the British Columbia Ministry of Education learning outcomes and can be adapted to meet the expectations Grades 5 through 9. Embedded in each lesson is the opportunity for students to share and rehearse their thinking and extend their understanding.

Secondary Education
Integrated Resource Package 2008 – British Columbia Ministry of Education
The First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) has developed curriculum pursuant to a jurisdictional agreement with the Province of British Columbia. This agreement represents a departure from past practice with respect to both the development of provincially prescribed curriculum and the provision of resource documentation to support for provincially prescribed curriculum. This distinctive development process is intended to ensure that

• teaching and learning with respect to First Peoples in British Columbia’s school system is based on authentic knowledge and understanding, as articulated by Elders, educators, and other content experts from within British Columbia’s First Nations and Métis communities

• decisions affecting teaching and learning with respect to First Peoples in British Columbia’s school system take appropriate account of the advice and opinion of community leaders from within the province’s First Nations and Métis communities.
  

Focus: Grade 12 English – First Peoples

Summary: English 12 First Peoples provides opportunities for all students to engage with indigenous creative expression to enter the worlds of First Peoples provincially, nationally, and internationally. The course focuses on the experiences, values, beliefs, and lived realities of First Peoples as evidenced in various forms of text, including oral story, speech, poetry, dramatic work, dance, song, film, and prose (fiction and non-fiction).

Multi Media
Aboriginal Story in Digital Media (English and French)
Horizon Zero Website, a multimedia Web magazine about digital art and culture in Canada; a bilingual virtual space devoted to creativity and critical ideas in a new media canon.

Focus: Secondary English and Native Studies

Summary: Issue 17 of Horizon Zero is an interactive digital collection devoted to Aboriginal storytelling.

Related Links
Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC)
Focus: Teachers, Educators and Education Policymakers

Summary: In 2004, CMEC declared Aboriginal education to be a priority issue deserving targeted activity.  This commitment was reaffirmed in Learn Canada 2020, the framework that the ministers are using to enhance Canada’s educational systems, in which Aboriginal education was identified as one of the specific activity areas.

In establishing Aboriginal education as a priority, ministers have acknowledged the need to find new and varied ways of working together and in partnership with Aboriginal leaders and communities and with the federal government to improve outcomes for Aboriginal students at all levels of education.

The objective in Learn Canada 2020 presents the primary objective:  eliminate the gap in academic achievement and graduation rates between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students by bringing together key stakeholders including ministers of education and Aboriginal affairs, national and regional organizations, and federal government representatives to discuss issues related to Aboriginal education. CMEC has two activities linked to Aboriginal education:
Aboriginal Education Action Plan and Summit on Aboriginal Education

Professional Development
Canadian Education Trend Report: Anti-racism and Multicultural Education
Summary: Description of Some Current Activities in Canada using coordinating approaches at a National/Federal, Provincial and Non Governmental Organization (NGO) levels.

Relevant Research
Centre for Native Policy and Research
Summary: The Centre for Native Policy and Research is a non-partisan, social justice, progressive Aboriginal think tank on the social, economic and environmental public policy and research concerns of Aboriginal people in British Columbia and Canada.