FNMI Student Success Webinar Series: Session 1

Debbie MineaultFNMI Senior Manager

SESSION 1

Humble Beginnings: Essence of Family and Community

Date: January 25, 2011

(4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

The Bouvier Family

First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) Awareness

Spiritual

Intellectual

Emotional

Physical

First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) Awareness

Relevance

Reciprocity

Respect

Responsibility

First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) Awareness

Create your acrostic poem to describe your origins (Aboriginal Studies 10)

For example:O__________________,

R__________________

I _______________________

G___________________,

I ___________________,

N ___________________,

S _____________________.

FNMI Parent/Community Inclusive Strategies

Strategies include building relationships that:• connect with students—show warmth, caring, sensitivity,

humor, trust and high expectations. • create a collaborative system of learning where children,

parents and the whole community are learning together while preserving their history, culture and language.

• include both traditional and contemporary culture regarding philosophy and worldview.

• discuss local issues and controversial current events, particularly those dealing with historical basis.

Culture Responsive Education

Appreciation, understanding and acknowledgement of:

– holistic teachings and understandings of FNMI culture through methodology, curriculum, resources, professional development.

– FNMI perspectives, experiences, and worldviews. Western cultures have influenced many Aboriginal communities. Some community members display a mix of traditional and western practices. Not every member will be able to answer questions about protocol or traditional ceremonies.

– family and community is about interrelatedness and belonging.

First Nations Peoples in Alberta

• Treaty 6 1876 (17 Bands)• Treaty 7 1877 (5 Bands)• Treaty 8 1899 (28 Bands)

First Nations Cultural Demographics

Treaty 6Treaty 7Treaty 8

MNAAZone 1Zone 2Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6

Métis Settlements1. Paddle Prairie2. Peavine3. Gift Lake4. East Prairie5. Buffalo Lake6. Kikino7. Elizabeth8. Fishing Lake

Alberta: Métis Demographics

Further Reading• Ministry Business Plan, 2010-2013

http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/department/businessplan/• FNMI Education Policy Framework

http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/fnmi/policies/fnmipolicy.aspx• Promising Practices in First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education: Case

Studieshttp://education.alberta.ca/teachers/fnmi/resources.aspx

• Our Words, Our Ways, Teaching First Nations, Métis and Inuit Learners http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/fnmi/resources.aspx

• First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education AISI Provincial Research Review http://WWW.education.alberta.ca/aisi

• Aboriginal Studies 10 Aboriginal Perspectives http://www.lrc.education.gov.ab.ca

Next Sessions

History: Impacts of Formal Education on FNMI People February 15, 2011

Reconnection: FNMI Relationship to Land and Environment March 15, 2011

Future: Balance of Cultures April 12, 2011

Questions/Contact

THANK YOU

Debbie.Mineault@gov.ab.ca