November 20, 2013 - 7:27am
Today’s teachers need to know more about Aboriginal students, including their languages, in order to help improve student success rates in BC schools.
That’s a message Lorna Williams, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Knowledge and Learning at the University of Victoria (UVic), will deliver during an informal presentation at Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Nanaimo campus Nov. 28.
Williams and Geraldine Manson, VIU Elder in Residence, will share their experience and knowledge of First Nations languages and discuss the role of universities in language research.
Their talk, part of VIU’s Respectful Research: Its Meaning in Practice speaker series, is open to everyone, including teachers, principals and others with an interest in First Nations education.
Williams’ research at UVic involves studying language in indigenous communities, indigenous perspectives on teaching and learning, and indigenous science and environmental knowledge for school curricula. (see http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/chairholders-titulaires/profile-eng.aspx...)
“To be a good teacher, you need to know something about your students,” says Williams. “One of the ways to improve the success rates among Aboriginal children in BC’s education system is to make sure that school teachers learn about their future students.”
According to Williams, there are Aboriginal students in all school districts in BC, and, in some districts they make up more than 50 percent of the student population. For this reason, Williams is contributing to changes in the school teaching curricula. She wants to see indigenous perspectives and values asserted and promoted within the traditions of teaching and learning in Canada.
Williams recognizes that language is a vital key in this process. Her studies on indigenous languages and cultures are helping to advance the public’s understanding of indigenous perspectives on language and language learning, as well as providing substance for innovative curriculum designs.
As Canada Research Chair, Williams' research goals include the design of university programs to support indigenous language speakers as teachers and community activists in indigenous language renewal. She is also promoting the development of graduate programs in educational and community counselling, in environmental and First Nations education, and in indigenous language revitalization.
Geraldine Manson is a member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation and full-time Elder in Residence at VIU. She will also offer her perspective on the university’s role in language research.
The Respectful Research: Its Meaning in Practice session takes place on Thursday, November 28 from 12 noon to 2 pm in VIU’s Institute for Coastal Research Lounge (Building 305/4th Floor Lounge) at the Nanaimo campus, 900 Fifth Street.
Lunch will be provided so attendees are asked to please RSVP to Michele Patterson at Michele.patterson@viu.ca to confirm attendance.
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Janina Stajic, Manager, Vancouver Island University P: 250.740.6288
E: Communications@viu.ca Twitter: @VIUNews
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