Centre for Native Policy and Research

In this study the researchers investigate the educational circumstances of Aboriginal students in Winnipeg inner city high schools. The study is based on interviews with Aboriginal students, Aboriginal school leavers, adult members of the Aboriginal community, and teachers. Responses by Aboriginal people to the researchers questions about their experiences in schools reveal the existence of what the researchers have identified as a cultural/class/experiential divide between Aboriginal students and their families on the one hand, and the school system on the other. Aboriginal students experience the divide between themselves and the school system on a daily basis, and a good deal of what they experience in school is negative. Not surprisingly, many Aboriginal students resist and even reject this form of education. This is not the way in which this issue is generally understood. It is generally understood as a problem of Aboriginal students failing in school, of their having a 'dropout' rate double that of non-Aboriginal students. The evidence that the researchers have gathered suggests to us that Aboriginal people want the education that is needed to enable them to participate fully in Canadian society and in their own self-governance but they do not want to abandon what it is to be Aboriginal in order to do so.

This paper explores the four waves of colonization; which Thira proposes are legal, administrative, ideological, and the oppressive Western 'healing.' Thira discusses the negative impacts on Aboriginal people as a result of these waves of colonization" and ends with a section on "Breaking the tide: Aboriginal Healing"

This guide is designed to help interested individuals and groups develop and operate affordable housing for seniors. It is intended to assist groups ranging from non-profit organizations with no experience in seniors housing to operators of large assisted living facilities. The term "supportive housing" refers to housing situations ranging from completely independent seniors housing to licensed residential care (nursing homes). The guide focuses on housing that provides hospitality services (meals, laundry, housekeeping, social and recreational activities) or personal care services (help with bathing, dressing, eating) or both. Research into existing supportive housing projects suggests opportunities for streamlining costs and improving efficiency. This guide provides guidelines, comparisons and suggestions that will save money in the development, construction and operation of supportive housing projects for seniors. A total of 55 individuals and organizations were interviewed during the preparation of this report.

The 2001 Consensus reveals that Winnipeg has the largest urban Aboriginal population in Canada. It is expected that a decade from now, at lease one in five people reaching working age in Manitoba will be Aboriginal. Given this, Aboriginal education is central to Winnipeg's future and from what we know Aboriginal students are less likely than non-Aboriginal students to graduate from high school. This article investigates the educational circumstances of Aboriginal students in Winnipeg inner city high schools through interviews and held focus groups with more than 130 Aboriginal people- high school students, school-leavers, adults, and some teachers. The findings show that three things need to change; 1) more Aboriginal teachers 2) more Aboriginal content in the curriculum and 3) racism in the schools.