Educators share knowledge and experience

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In a continuing drive to promote and affect educational opportunities and learning for Aboriginal people, especially at the post-secondary level and in the area of trades, the Edmonton Aboriginal Education Council sponsored a March 15-16 Aboriginal education counsellors' conference.

Entitled "Linking Students to Their Future," the conference was conducted at Edmonton's Grant MacEwan Community College and was meant to provide information and discussion on various post-secondary education services and institutions "because people are always asking . . . the same questions, 'what do you have too offer?'" explained Jane Woodward, director for the GMCC Aboriginal Education Centre.

Most of the approximately 70 delegates in attendance shared insights into their services, programs, organizations or institutions.

One of the changing faces of the business, added Woodward, is the manner in which the institutions differ from one another. "We're specializing (at GMCC); at one time it was more like competition with other schools."

For example, Nor'Quest College does upgrading, while GMCC is degree-granting (leaning more towards being a university college) and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology focuses a lot more on trades.

Apart from these groups, others who presented workshops at the conference represented the University of Alberta, Athabasca University, Concordia College, Yellowhead Tribal Council, Freehorse Family Wellness Society, Oteenow Employment and Training Society, ACES, ACCESS, Alberta Apprenticeship, Youth Connections (YMCA), the Career Development Centre and the Students Finance Board. "There's a very articulate voice of Native educators that needs to be involved," suggested Lewis Cardinal, co-ordinator for Native Student Services at the University of Alberta.

The council is always receptive to partnering with others and will likely draw in Maskwachees Cultural College, Blue Quills and others, he pointed out. "We're all educators, it's what binds us together."

The council is there to raise issues and questions about education - everything from Head Start to PhD programs.

Cardinal feels strongly that the conference was a great opportunity to exchange information, questions and concerns regarding all levels and forms of education. Oteenow's students finance and apprenticeship board workshops were "big draws." The fact that "institutions change policies from time to time is another reason we need conferences like this," he said.

Clearly, post-secondary education is important in cities such as Edmonton, and the urban centres "must prepare for increased numbers in educational institutions that'll have to respond," said Woodward. Such projections are all the more valid given Edmonton's forecast that the city expects to experience a high volume of Aboriginal growth over the next four or five years. In fact, it expects to rank as one of the top two cities in the entire country with respect to Aboriginal population increases.

On a lighter note, a social evening featured the musical talents of John Waniandy and Darlene Olson, as well as a play by the local Free Spirit Theatre.

The dinner speaker was Dr. Dale Auger, a Cree artist and humorist based in the Calgary area, who told of his own personal experiences as a learner in the school system. Sometimes, he stated, cultural conflicts arise that interfere with one's education. One that he elaborated on was about the time he was taking art classes and had to draw nudes using real-life models. To even look at a nude was a no-no in Indian culture, he explained. That certainly made him uncomfortable.

In assessing the overall conference, Woodward said, "one message that came out loud and clear was that people want a forum, they want to come back together to talk" about student retention, recruitment, tracking and teaching strategies.

Organizers are not sure of what they'll do just yet in terms of follow-up conferences.