Charting Our Path Aboriginal Report
On October 29, 2008, the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development released Charting Our Path  [PDF 241kb], a report that outlines Aboriginal learner participation and achievement in B.C.'s public post-secondary institutions for the period 2003/04 to 2006/07. In developing the report, the Ministry worked with its Aboriginal Post‑Secondary Education and Training Partners, which includes Aboriginal and First Nations leadership, public post-secondary institution presidents, Aboriginal post-secondary institutions and organizations, and the federal and provincial governments.
Aboriginal Youth Internship Program
On Sept. 10, 2008, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development, Murray Coell, honored fifteen Aboriginal youth for successfully completing the first year of the Aboriginal Youth Internship Program.
The provincial government program began in September 2007 after extensive consultations with five Aboriginal youth organizations, the First Nations Leadership Council and the Métis Nation. The 12-month internship is designed to increase leadership capacity, education and career opportunities in the public service for Aboriginal youth.
 News release  Video
On April 24, 2007, Premier Gordon Campbell and Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell announced the Province’s $65-million Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education Strategy [PDF 10kb].
The Government of British Columbia is committed to closing the higher learning education gap so that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people can participate equally in the social and economic fabric of the province.
Aboriginal people already make great contributions to our post-secondary system, both as students and educators. Advanced Education drafted this strategy through consultation with Aboriginal communities, institutions and the B.C. First Nations Leadership Council, so that both the barriers to learning and the best practices could be acknowledged.
The strategy helps Aboriginal students and institutions by:
- Increasing the opportunity for Aboriginal students and those who want to be by providing funding to the Aboriginal Endowment Scholarship, the Chief Joe Mathias B.C. Aboriginal Scholarship, Alberta Centennial Scholarships and loan options through StudentAid BC.
- Supporting three-year Aboriginal service plans created by communities and institutions to develop partnerships that will encourage people to access post-secondary programs that will lead to jobs in their local areas.
- Increasing opportunities for institutions and communities to develop Aboriginal-focused programs that recognize cultural and learning needs, like the Aboriginal Special Projects Fund.
- Building supportive ways to help Aboriginal people enter the education system through adult basic education, upgrading and beyond up to graduate levels to reach their goals.
- Providing institutions with funding to build culturally welcoming structures and gathering places that will lower isolation and increase retention by reflecting the character, community and traditions of Aboriginal cultures.
- Encouraging Aboriginal perspectives and decision making by supporting Aboriginal participation on public post-secondary education boards.
- Continuing to address the education needs of Aboriginal students by working with institutions to create a system-wide standard to track participation and success.
For further information, contact:
Jacqueline Dennis-Orr, Senior Policy Advisor
Learning Programs Branch
Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development
PO Box 9882 Stn Prov Govt
4th floor - 835 Humboldt St
Victoria BC V8W 9T6
Phone: (250) 387-2043
Fax: (250) 387-0878
E-mail: Jacqueline.DennisOrr@gov.bc.c
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