Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo joins U of T's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

sgupta — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 09:20:35 +0000

Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo joins U of T's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education sgupta Tue, 10/07/2014 - 05:20

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Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo has been named the first William A. Macdonald, Q.C Distinguished Fellow in Indigenous Education at the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).

As a distinguished fellow, Atleo will support OISE’s new Indigenous education initiative, a comprehensive five-year program to explore the educational needs and aspirations of Indigenous peoples in Canada and around the world. (Read more about the initiative.)

"This new initiative is an important demonstration of the role universities can and must play as places of discussion, partnership and innovation in support of Indigenous education and Indigenous people," said Atleo.

Atleo will play a lead role in forging new partnerships among Indigenous peoples in Canada, government agencies, non-government organizations and the private sector, said OISE Dean Julia O’Sullivan. His appointment is supported by a $5-million gift from an anonymous donor – the largest donation ever made to a Canadian faculty of education for Indigenous education research.

"I applaud the University of Toronto and OISE's dean, Julia O'Sullivan, for stepping into this leadership role and am honoured to be joining the excellence in Indigenous education already established through the scholarship of Dr. Suzanne Stewart, Dr. Jean-Paul Restoule and others at OISE," said Atleo.

"This initiative will bring enhanced focus to the learning needs, including our languages and cultures, of Indigenous children here and around the globe, to fully nurture and support their success."

Atleo will also join the department of social justice education and the department of leadership, higher and adult education as an adjunct professor.

A Hereditary Chief from the Ahousaht First Nation, Atleo was elected as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in July 2009 and was re-elected in 2012. Previously, he served two terms as Regional Chief of the BC AFN. Chief Atleo graduated in 2003 with a master’s of education in adult learning and global change from the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia. His accolades include 12 honorary degrees from universities in Canada and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his advocacy work on behalf of First Nations. Atleo also serves as the chancellor of Vancouver Island University.

"I am delighted to have Shawn Atleo joining OISE as a Distinguished Fellow and Adjunct Professor,” O’Sullivan said. “An inspirational leader, Chief Atleo will be an invaluable support to OISE students and faculty and to our Indigenous Education Initiative, which will position OISE as the global leader in indigenous education research.”

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Landmark donation to U of T will advance Indigenous education in Canada

sgupta — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 11:49:27 +0000

Landmark donation to U of T will advance Indigenous education in Canada sgupta Fri, 09/26/2014 - 07:49

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Suzanne Stewart (YK Dene) is the Canada Research Chair in Aboriginal Homelessness & Life Transitions and special advisor to the dean on Aboriginal Education at OISE (photo by Chris Wahl)

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The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto has received a $5 million gift from an anonymous donor to strengthen Indigenous education research in Canada.

The gift, which is the largest donation ever made to a Canadian faculty of education for Indigenous education research, will establish a prestigious fellowship and launch a comprehensive five-year initiative exploring the educational needs and aspirations of Indigenous peoples.

“The University of Toronto is already recognized as a world leader in Indigenous education thanks to the dedication of scholars at OISE who have made Indigenous education a priority,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “This gift affirms that stature and provides the support required to ensure that U of T continues to lead the way. This is a wonderful accomplishment.”

The initiative will help forge new partnerships among Indigenous peoples in Canada, government agencies, non-government organizations and the private sector with the aim of pursuing vital avenues of inquiry that will enrich all public education.

“The OISE Indigenous Education Initiative fully recognizes and embraces the principles advanced by Indigenous peoples and educators,” noted OISE Dean Julia O’Sullivan. “The initiative will support important dialogue on the advancement and achievement of those very principles.”

Within this context, the OISE Indigenous Initiative will focus on literacy during the first year. This priority is in keeping with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which recognize the importance of investment in education and literacy, as crucial to social progress and particularly to the successful participation of individuals in their communities.

“The initiative is important because it further positions OISE as a postsecondary leader in Aboriginal education. OISE’s unparalleled focus in adopting Indigenous paradigms in education and research, posit possibilities of unprecedented changes, such as in literacy and mental health, and will be underpinned by support from this initiative,” said Suzanne Stewart (YK Dene), Canada Research Chair in Aboriginal Homelessness & Life Transitions and special advisor to the dean on Aboriginal Education at OISE.

Building on its work on literacy, the OISE Indigenous Education Initiative will also pursue research in related areas such as Indigenous languages and language revitalization, education governance and literacy infrastructure.

While the focus will be the Canadian context, the OISE Indigenous Education Initiative will generate new knowledge that is relevant to education, and the study of education, in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous societies around the world. The research is also expected to have a significant impact on policy in Canada.

“One of the great divisions between those who succeed and those who struggle relates to literacy and education. This is especially true with Indigenous children,” said Kenn Richard, executive director of Native Child and Family Services Toronto. “I applaud this initiative as we need to know how to build a system where all succeed.”

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