Working
Title-Aboriginal children in urban schools
Urban-based First Nations survival schools established in the late 1970’s,
blend mandated provincial curriculum with First Nations cultural curriculum.
These schools exist in provinces across Canada.
More
recently, and particularly in western Canada (e.g. North Battleford),
provinces have added Aboriginal schools to address the growing number of
Aboriginal families with children migrating to urban centres. As well, these
provinces are developing policies, programs and services, and curriculum to
support Aboriginal students within the public school system. In the past
year, in Peterborough, Ontario, an educator set up a privately funded First
Nations school.
Outside
of Canada, Australia and New Zealand have a longer history of integrated and
segregated schooling for Aboriginal students. There are also a variety of
views on an ideal approach, and necessary components.
This
thesis will not examine an ideal approach to Aboriginal schooling in urban
centres. It will not critique issues of jurisdiction and control of
education. Ideal approach and jurisdiction are political questions related
to issues of governance. The questions for this thesis will focus on what’s
out there, and examining the similarities and differences of these models,
programs and services, and curricula in use.
