Adult learners gain flexible study options

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Today, opportunities exist as never before for young people to get a good education. Sometimes it is a lot harder to spot the educational opportunities for adults who may have missed some schooling the first time around.

At Brock University in St. Catharines, however, a very flexible program is underway for Aboriginal adults who want to obtain credentials that will enable them to teach other Aboriginal adults. Options exist to complete either a bachelor of education degree in Aboriginal adult education or an Aboriginal education certificate program.

Typical students enrolled in a Brock University adult education certificate program are in their 30s and 40s, employed, and they already possess a two-year college diploma. Quite a few have completed an undergraduate university degree.

John Hudson, a 50-year-old Mohawk who has been jack-of-all-trades and master of some too, started his own education career in the college system. Five years ago he became the Aboriginal adult education program co-ordinator at Brock.

Hudson said that with an Aboriginal youth population double that of the mainstream, adult education is "not a priority" with band councils or governments, and in the case of the Metis, there is "no funding from the feds." But communities are starting to recognize it takes educated and emotionally stable Aboriginal adults to model reasons to stay in school and prove how they can enrich their culture in the process.

Hudson is adamant that "We need more teachers of adults."

Brock's program starts from the premise that Aboriginal education "needs well teachers." Aboriginal teachers, Hudson said, are "the change agents, the healers. Not medical people, but people who did different things in life and are modellers of behaviour. People who walk the talk."

That is why they are offering their adult education students "opportunities to think about wellness." Hudson said. He went further: "We want to heighten people's consciousness, have them recognize the effects of colonialism."

He added, however, that "People always have a choice to do whatever they need to do, given where they're at in their lives. We don't mandate wellness. We say 'If you agree that teachers need to be well, what does that mean to you?' So we just ask questions. People answer them or don't. That's the thing: you can get through this program and not even think or touch on your own issues of wellness, or you can plumb the depths. It's what you're comfortable with and what you're capable of."

Brock's Aboriginal adult education certificate program and Aboriginal adult education degree program respect "the dignity of the individual, their right to approach things the best way they can, and the right to a safe (learning) environment."

Hudson said the "low-tech program" features "talking circles instead of talking heads." It consists primarily of "a facilitator, a TV and a VCR." Instruction for the five core education courses is recorded on videotape. Seminars, discussions, group and interactive activities and films also are used.

Hudson added that Brock put its program together after consultation with "powerful people from across the country" who met in a circle for over a year. This brainstorming included substantive input from Elders and First Nation governance.

One priority in setting up programs to prepare people to work with Aboriginal adults in the education, training, health or community development fields was to "honour previous college and university and to provide advanced standing" to those who had obtained post-secondary education elsewhere. Up to 10 credits may be transferred from other universities. They also offer small classes, trained Aboriginal facilitators, and culturally specific services to the adult learners.

For those with an undergraduate degree but who want to pursue the bachelor of education degree in Aboriginal adult education offered at Brock, they can earn it by taking just five cultrally based, 78-hour core education courses. Hudson said the College of Teachers in the province has agreed to recognize the degree.

These courses are offered at Native institutes, colleges or universities in various locations in the province. Participants usually attend classes Friday evening and all day Saturday, "every other weekend," and do the remaining course work on their own time.

Currently, the courses are offered in Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Midland, Six Nations and Fort Erie, with about 100 students participating.

Brock has signed an agreement with the First Nations University of Regina, for a three-year college diploma program to be offered in Prince Albert, Sask.

The university is also talking with Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Nipissing and Lakehead universities about developing a teacher education program in the Sault Lookout area, John Hodson said.

"An evolutionary process is underway to reintepret education in accordance with Aboriginal beliefs, values and languages. Tribal councils, universities and institutes are all working on it." For more information, e-mail Hodson: jhodson@ed.brocku.ca.