April 5, 2006 Source: :
http://www.usask.ca/events/news/articles/20060405-1.html U of S Researchers to Co-Lead National Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre Organization: University of Saskatchewan Communications
Email: communications@usask.ca
Released: Apr. 5, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Wednesday, April 5th, 2006 2006-04-03-OTHER U of S Researchers to Co-Lead National Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre The University of Saskatchewan's Aboriginal Education Research Centre (AERC)
has been selected by the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) to co-lead a new
national network for gathering and sharing information on effective
approaches to Aboriginal learning. AERC will work with the First Nations Adult and Higher Education Consortium
(FNAHEC) in Calgary to lead the new Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre, a
consortium of more than 50 members drawn from the region encompassing the
Prairie provinces, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The new national centre will have access to up to $1.5 million per year to
develop a network of shared knowledge and expertise that is expected to
contribute to greater academic success for Aboriginal students. The CCL
notes that nearly twice as many working-age Aboriginals do not have their
high-school diploma (39 per cent), compared to non-Aboriginal Canadians (22
per cent). "Today, as governments acknowledge the importance of Aboriginal learning
systems developed in partnership with Aboriginal Peoples, this knowledge
centre will help to set priorities for research, propose ways to measure
progress, and create networks to share practices that can strengthen
learning outcomes among Aboriginal Peoples of Canada," said Paul Cappon, CCL
President and CEO. "The Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre will profile and advance the most
current knowledge and exemplary practices in First Nations, Métis and
Inuit learning." AERC Academic Director Marie Battiste says the knowledge centre will
directly involve Aboriginal Peoples in developing solutions to the many
learning challenges they face. "It will play a key role in analyzing existing research and promoting
further research to provide the reliable information required to improve
learning opportunities and outcomes among Aboriginal Peoples," she said. AERC, housed in the U of S College of Education, is a collaborative teaching
and research centre operated in partnership with diverse First Nations,
Métis and Northern groups to identify and address their specific
needs and priorities. "The knowledge centre will work collaboratively to recognize and build on
the unique personal, social, cultural and historical contexts for Aboriginal
learning, and share knowledge about promising practices across Canada," said
Vivian Ayoungman, Executive Director of the Calgary-based FNAHEC which is
made up of 10 First Nation colleges and adult training centres in Western
Canada. The Canadian Council on Learning is an independent, not-for-profit
corporation funded through an agreement with Human Resources and Social
Development Canada. Its mandate is to promote and support evidence-based
decision making throughout all stages of learning, from early childhood
through to the workplace and beyond. The new centre is one of five knowledge centres created by the Council. Each
will contribute to better outcomes in various stages of learning, from early
childhood to the workplace and beyond. The other centres are: Adult
Learning (Atlantic Canada), Early Childhood Learning (Quebec), Health and
Learning (British Columbia and Yukon), and Work and Learning (Ontario). A full list of the Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre consortium members
is available on CCL's website: www.ccl-cca.ca - 30 - For more information, contact: Kathryn Warden
Director, Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2506
www.usask.ca/research Elizabeth Everson
Director, Communications
Canadian Council on Learning
(613) 786-3230 ext. 207
Cell: (613) 222-2879
beverson@ccl-cca.ca
www.ccl-cca.ca
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