(2002). Racism's Frontier: The Untold Story of Discrimination and Division in Alaska. In response to an incident in which white teenagers shot Alaska Natives with frozen paintballs, the Alaska State Advisory Committee (SAC) to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights hosted a 2-day community forum in Anchorage. The forum solicited input about improving race relations from state, local, and federal officials, representatives of advocacy groups and community organizations, and Alaska residents, and focused on education, employment, and the administration of justice. The SAC also obtained input specifically from Alaska Natives in a day-long session at the annual Conference of the Alaska Federation of Natives. Civil rights issues unique to Alaska include an urban/rural divide, with residents of remote rural villages (predominantly Native Alaskans) often receiving inferior state and federal services, if any at all; rural subsistence lifestyles based on access to natural resources; and local control of natural resources through tribal self-governance. A chapter on educational… [PDF]
(1997). Toward a First Nations Cross-Cultural Science and Technology Curriculum. Science Education, v81 n2 p217-38 Apr. Explores First Nations (Native American) science education from a cultural perspective. Recognizes science as a subculture and contrasts scientific and Aboriginal ideas about science. Provides a description of the rationale and a series of steps toward a cross-cultural education. Contains 125 references. (DDR)…
(1995). The Continuum of Literacy in American Indian Communities. Bilingual Research Journal, v19 n1 p5-15 Win. Describes the O'odham language and oral tradition of the Tohono O'odham Indians of southern Arizona, relating it to the development of O'odham children's English literacy. Oral tradition and school literacy constitute opposite ends of a literacy continuum, in which English literacy is often isolated from and in conflict with O'odham literacy. (10 references) (MDM)…
(2002). It's about People: A Successful School/University Partnership. Winds of Change, v17 n1 p14-17 Win. Utah State University and a rural elementary school attended by Navajos cooperated on a science education program for grades 4-6. The program used take-home science kits; field trips; parental input; and Navajo staff, language, and culture to make the program culturally relevant. University students in science teacher education programs helped students and learned valuable lessons about multicultural education. (TD)…
(2000). Education, Ecology and Culture: Stories from the Margins. Progressive Perspectives, v3 n1 Fall. Visits to rural indigenous communities in Oaxaca (Mexico) exposed Vermont teachers and university students to cultures that recognize the interconnectedness of life and caused them to reflect on how different cultural patterns promote or hinder ecologically sustainable living. The communities' efforts to incorporate their culture and language into school curricula are discussed. (Contains 12 references.) (TD)…
(1995). Aboriginal Language Standardisation Project. Progress Report. This report provides an update on Ontario's Aboriginal Language Standardization Project at the 2-year mark. The project was designed to ensure the revitalization of Ontario's native aboriginal languages and to meet the needs of aboriginal populations in doing so. An introductory section recounts the project's origins. Subsequent sections address the following topics: the number of aboriginal languages in Ontario, and literacy status within each; language standardization and dialects; the standardization and codification objectives of the original project; the nature and status of aboriginal language literacy initiatives; the roles of Ontario government ministries in promoting aboriginal language maintenance; and the role and participation of the aboriginal peoples in this effort. Appended materials include information on the aboriginal languages and their distribution in Ontario, and listings of school-based and other aboriginal language and literacy programs in which the languages… [PDF]
(1992). Towards Cross Cultural Sensitivity in the Human Services. Instructor Edition. UCFV Press Instructional Series. This instructor's manual provides an overview of educating human-services workers in British Columbia (Canada) in order to change and understand racism. In addition to exercises that can be used with classes to promote examination of beliefs and values, brief histories of racism in British Columbia and the experiences of specific racial or ethnic groups are traced. British Columbia is a microcosm of intense and controversial racial and cultural interactions. Several models of cross-cultural social work are explored, so that students can understand what cross-cultural work with people should entail. Ten case studies are presented to get students to think about the issues involved. Effective cross-cultural teaching calls for a critical approach that must begin with the learners and their world views. The structure of this manual parallels that of the student edition, with the following sections: (1) Introduction; (2) Journeys of Discovery: Teaching Cross Cultural Social Work Practice;… [PDF]
(1995). Alberta Children and Youth: Trends and Issues, 1995. Education is part of a complex and dynamic system in which family, social, economic, and other factors have a tremendous influence on students. This environmental scanning report for Alberta, Canada is intended to draw attention to societal trends and issues that may be relevant to educators and to disseminate information that will support educational planning and decision making. The report is organized into three sections. Section 1, "Demographic Profile," covers: (1) population characteristics; (2) youth mobility; (3) fertility/mortality; and (4) aboriginal children. Section 2, "Childhood," discusses: (1) children and families; (2) child care; and (3) children at risk. The third, and final, section, "Adolescence," reports on: (1) values, attitudes and issues; (2) time use patterns; (3) labor force participation; (4) sexual activity; (5) youth crime; (6) substance abuse; and (7) transition to adulthood. Highlights of the findings reported include the… [PDF]
(1993). Native Peoples. A Guide to Reference Sources. This guide from McGill University (Quebec, Canada) emphasizes sources for ethnological research and includes materials reflecting concerns of social anthropology and historical approaches to the study of native peoples. Some government documents and map collections are included. Sources are arranged in the following categories: (1) handbooks and encyclopedias, 9 sources; (2) directories, 7 sources; (3) maps and atlases, 3 sources; (4) biography, 4 sources; (5) statistics, 7 sources; (6) current bibliography and periodical indexes, 6 sources; (7) retrospective bibliography, 102 sources; (8) manuscripts and archives, 7 sources; (9) theses, 6 sources; and (10) periodical lists, 4 sources. The retrospective bibliography section is comprised of items concerning catalogs of major library collections, general (North America and Canada), regional (Atlantic, Eastern/Central, Western, and Northern), and special subjects (arts and folklore, literature, education, government relations and…
(1986). Pangnirtung: A Community Study. This booklet provides reference materials for teachers of social studies in the Northwest Territories (Canada). The information was gathered during workshops attended by elders, community representatives, and teachers from the region. A geography section describes the location of Pangnirtung on Baffin Island and the geology, climate, vegetation, and wildlife of the region. History sections discuss the first prehistoric settlers in the region (Dorset and Thule peoples); possible contact with the Vikings; arrival of Europeans; establishment of whaling stations; contact with traders, missionaries, and explorers; establishment of a Hudson's Bay Company post in 1921; arrival of some federal government services in 1923; education, provided first by the Anglican mission and, after 1955, by the federal government; and periodic migrations between hunting/fishing camps and Pangnirtung. The section on the modern community discusses population, municipal government and services, education and…
(1990). The Written Languages of India. Proceedings of the Indo-Canadian Round Table (New Delhi, India, March 7-8, 1988). Publication B-174. Papers from the conference include the following: opening remarks (Lorne Laforge and William F. Mackey); a position paper on the written language of the world (Grant D. McConnell); "An Overview of the Practical and Theoretical Implications of the 'Written Languages of India' Survey Regarding Language and National Development Strategies" (Grant D. McConnell); "Parameters of Language Inequality" (B. P. Mahapatra); "Standardization of Languages–The Case of India" (S. S. Bhattacharya); "Official and Minority Languages in Canada and India: Their Status, Functions and Prestige" (William F. Mackey); "The Concept of Working Language" (Jean-Denis Gendron); "Language Teaching and Language Planning" (Lorne Laforge); "Remarks on Survey Goals and Data Authenticity Validity" (R. C. Nigam);"The Hindi Language in Hindi and Non-Hindi Regions of India" (S. P. Srivastava); "Literacy Trend vs. Literary Development… [PDF]
(1969). Reaching the Child through Parent Education: The Florida Approach. Activities of the Institute for Development of Human Resources provide the information contained in this document. This first large-scale project of the institute was in parent education of disadvantaged mothers in the north central Florida area. The purpose of the project was to investigate a way in which early intervention into the lives of babies might break the poverty cycle, the intervention technique being the use of disadvantaged women in teaching mothers how to stimulate their infants. As a result of this project, the institute became one of the program sponsors for the Follow Through Program, which reflects the synthesis of strong institute interests–parent education, cognitive and language development, and systematic observation. The 11 papers of which this document is comprised represent individual studies resulting from either the original project or from the Follow Through Program. The chief topics of discussion are: The Disadvantaged Infant; and The Parent Educator as… [PDF]
(1927). Work of the Bureau of Education for the Natives of Alaska. Bulletin, 1927, No. 6. Bureau of Education, Department of the Interior Through its Alaska division, the United State Bureau of Education is developing and educating an aboriginal population of different races dwelling in widely varying regions and climates, many of whom require assistance in adjusting themselves to the new conditions with which civilization has confronted them. The problem involves both educating children and the uplifting of entire communities. The work includes the maintenance of schools, hospitals, and orphanages; the relief of destitution; the fostering of trade; the organization of cooperative business enterprises; the establishment of colonies; and the supervision of the reindeer industry. This bulletin describes transportation changes that have facilitated access for people and goods; the level of involvement of teachers in supplementing health care provided by the Bureau, developing industrial education programs, extension of medical services to more communities, the status of the reindeer industry, and the impact of the Bureau… [PDF]
(1997). Comparative History as World History: Religious Conversion in Modern India. Journal of World History, v8 n2 p243-71 Fall. Explores the reasons for the extraordinary conversion to Christianity among the Naga peoples of northeastern India. Almost the entire population has converted within the last 100 years. Tests the usefulness of models of religious change generated from fieldwork on conversion in Africa, specifically Robin Horton's "intellectualist" theory. (MJP)…
(1993). Introduction to Campus Tensions in Massachusetts. Equity and Excellence, v26 n1 p6-18 Apr. Presents findings of a meeting, sponsored by the Massachusetts Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, on racial tension and religious intimidation on Massachusetts campuses. Student representatives of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Smith College at Northampton (Massachusetts) describe experiences and provides insight and recommendations. (SLD)…