Walking in (More Than) Two Worlds: Literacy and Language Revitalization in Canada's North

Session Submission Type: Invited Session

Abstract

The juxtaposition between educational research and practice will be examined within the context of the highly topical issue of aboriginal student achievement in Canada’s North. Measures of student achievement point to an alarming gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal students across Canada and throughout the world. One aboriginal school board, the South Slave Divisional Education Council in the Northwest Territories (NWT), is closing the gap in achievement between aboriginal and non-aboriginal students, while at the same time championing a program of revitalized aboriginal language and cultural programming. The use of technology is central to this program of work (see http://www.ssdec.nt.ca/ablang/ablanguage/aboriginallanguages.html), which has been honored with diverse educational awards. Focusing on a case study of one school, Deninu School in Fort Resolution, this symposium will hear from stakeholders who have been witness to and a part of this transformation: Participants will include an aboriginal language instructor at the school; an aboriginal elder; a literacy coach, an administrator in the school board, and an academic researcher with a central interest in indigenous language education and the use of technology. While Deninu School was plagued by high absenteeism and low achievement rates merely five years ago, literacy achievement rates are closing in on the Canadian average and aboriginal language usage is on the rise.

Sub Unit

• AERA Sessions

Chair

• Bonny P. Norton, The University of British Columbia

Papers

• Indigenous Contexts for Learning - Lawence Fabian, Deninu School, Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories

• Language Connections Between Schools and Communities - Angie Fabien, Deninu School, Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories

• Effective Literacy Programs for Aboriginal Students - Kate Powell, Deninu School, Fort Resolution, Northwest Territories

• The Role of School Boards in Indigenous Student Learning - Brent Kaulback, South Slave Divisional Education Council, Northwest Territories

• Technacy and Language Revitalization: Multimedia Technology Use Among Indigenous Communities - Candace Kaleimamoowahinekapu Galla, The University of British Columbia