This commentary closes this special issue with the reflections from two individuals who, like many in these fields, cross the boundaries between scholar, activist and practitioner in their work with young people, teachers and wider society. They bring their experiences working with difficult pasts in the service of better futures to the…

This paper presents personal reflections on factors in the preservation and stabilization of North American indigenous languages. All indigenous languages in North America are in danger of being lost. Linguistic and cultural minority communities must control the institutions that affect their lives if there is to be significant and sustainable…

Describes life on a Canadian Indian reserve and discusses the role of the community in individuals' lives. Examines reasons why Canadian Indian teachers want to teach on the reserves. Concludes that the opportunity to serve as role models and a commitment to the community are the major reasons for teaching in these schools. (CFR)

This paper addresses issues relevant to international development programming, particularly with reference to distance education programming in indigenous communities of the Canadian north. A major issue in international programming is the role of the community. Without the participation of indigenous peoples as partners in program design and…

The 3-part companion volume to the final report of the Education North Evaluation Project serves as a policy development resource book for anyone who must address questions of school-community relations. Part I focuses on the educational issues of concern to policy makers and their advisors in very remote, interracial, poor northern communities.…

Native American educators discuss important factors to consider when developing a First Nations graduate education program: formal education as one of many ways of pursuing knowledge, the dangers of defining the "indigenous way" in scholarship, and the central role of the Native community and elders in program development. (LP)

Argues for local control of education by Native Canadians. Position based on benefits of parent responsibility, rather than on criticism of Canadian Indian policy or treaties. Examines Indian education history, noting positive examples of Native communities taking educational responsibility. Concludes local control makes good educational policy.…

A community-based approach to nutrition instruction involves developing awareness of community values and local knowledge systems in designing programs. Community participation is essential. (SK)

Accountability for Indian education must be shared among the chiefs and their councils, the Indian leaders at all levels, parents and students. This may be accomplished by Indian control of Indian education. Available from: Department of Educational Foundations, 5-109 Education North, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2G5. (ERB)

The emerging philosophy of Indian control of Indian education is the focus of this booklet. It embraces the belief that education should be controlled by the community and is most effective if it involves the community in the education process. Further, education should utilize the concept of cultural relevance to obtain its academic ends and must…

School violence in British Columbia (Canada) is directly related to youth alienation and disconnectedness. The Native concept of connectedness or sense of belonging can be a useful guide for assessing the effectiveness of school violence programs. Connectedness, in this context, indicates that humans are part of a seamless web of creation in which…

Conditions on Canadian Native reserves are often blamed on a lack of education, the assumption being that education automatically leads to a better life. On the contrary, reserve conditions are partly due to assimilationist education. Successful Native education depends on both Native control and content based in Native culture. Contains 24…

Canadian government welfare agencies are taking Canadian Indian children from their parents in alarming numbers and endangering their cultural and social development. Most of the children are placed in non-native homes, resulting in identity crises leading to alcoholism and other social problems. This is a serious trend. The survival of Indian…

To take community seriously in the conduct of educational research, the researcher should consider taking down epistemological walls and the "real" ones that confine the processes and products of academic labor to artificially isolated settings. Epistemologically, the question of walls relates to the kinds of knowledge competed over,…

Discusses relationship between the social work profession and indigenous populations living in colonial Canada. Examines characteristics of Eurocentrism and historical and ongoing colonial processes, and implicates the profession of social work as a colonizing practice. Urges native people to disengage from current neo-colonial and constitutional…