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Early Childhood and School Services provides support to Divisional
Education Councils/Divisional Education Authorities in revitalizing,
enhancing and maintaining Aboriginal Languages in the schools.
Aboriginal Languages are official languages in the Northwest
Territories.
In
response to the Special Committee on Education (1982), Teaching and
Learning Centers (TLCs) were established to develop materials for
Aboriginal Languages. The Department, Boards and TLCs work
collaboratively on supporting and promoting culture based education to:
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Develop school programs for students;
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Develop resources that support culture based
education;
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Provide support for the implementation of Dene Kede
and Inuuatigiit, which are curriculum form the Dene and Inuit
perspectives;
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Enhance Aboriginal language development in students;
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Work with language communities in supporting
Aboriginal languages;
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Meet the educational needs of Aboriginal students
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Children’s language and culture is the basis for how they form their
understanding of the world, and the structure to which they attach all
new learning.
Essentially, a child’s language is so closely associated with personal
and cultural identity, as well as with cognitive development, that the
success of his or her early education depends on the language having
been given sufficient recognition and exercise.
Educational research indicates that if children feel their culture,
language, heritage and roots are valued they will have the basis for
positive self-esteem and the confidence to learn new things. Research
also indicates that learning a second language is facilitated through a
strong foundation in the first language.
Our
goal is to ensure that any curriculum we produce is appropriate to the
unique needs, cultures, languages and learning styles of the students of
the Northwest Territories.
Culture-based schooling occurs when:
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The culture(s) of the community is/are reflected in
all aspects of the school. Culture, in this context, links respect
for the past, understanding of and involvement in the present, and
visions and aspirations for the future.
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Culture encompasses the languages, values, beliefs,
lifestyles and issues that are integral to the community.
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The community school seeks the guidance of Elders and
other key people in the children's lives, and actively incorporates
their visions and their knowledge into all school programs.
There is meaningful and ongoing school/community interaction when:
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The school is welcoming and inviting to community
members;
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The school reflects and uses the language(s) of the
community;
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The school participates in community events;
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Learning occurs in community settings as well as in
school.
For
more Information:
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