Aboriginal Education Through Culture

Improved Essays
Education Through Culture
According to Statistics Canada, “In 2006, 33% of Aboriginal adults aged 25 to 54 had less than a high school education compared to nearly 13% of the non-Aboriginal population” (Statistics Canada, 2006) a percentage larger than it ever should be. The difference between the Aboriginal community and non-Aboriginal community regarding education is so large, that when older Aboriginals are competing for jobs and positions, it is nearly impossible. In order to reduce the amount of un-educated Aboriginals, it has been proven that language nests and immersion programs are important in early education for Aboriginal children’s health and well being. These programs are also increasingly recognized for building the wellbeing of the Aboriginal community as a whole. Teaching Aboriginal youth about their identity and culture, through education will better their future health and knowledge. Within an aboriginal community, family is very important for an individual’s development. For a student to have support from their family in increasing their education, plays a large role in the student’s future. Many Aboriginal students go without support from their family towards their education because of the assimilation their elders faced, and the negative associations they now associate with schooling. Educators are now mistrusted within Aboriginal Communities from the generations that faced abuse, and their “experiences within the residential school system have greatly impacted Aboriginal families and their attitudes toward schooling.” (Stromquist.2015). All though measures have been taken by the government in apologizing and providing some financial support, it comes nowhere close to the hurt and pain that has already been caused to Aboriginals. The fact that education in Aboriginal communities has become so negatively associated, is so contradictory to their beliefs as they value education so heavily, in their own traditional ways. The assimilation of traditional Aboriginal education is very similar to the colonization from Christopher Columbus when exploring the Americas.
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Stromquist compares these matters further when he writes, “The trauma of colonialism experienced by past generations continues to influence every aspect of our lives, from infancy through childhood and adolescence, to parenthood and even grandparenthood” (Stromquist, 2015) like the Aboriginal youth still effected and influenced by the assimilation of their relatives. Even before the forced Residential schooling for Aboriginals, Columbus had already traumatized the Aboriginal ancestors with racism and brutality with “barbaric treatment” and “exploited in the pursuit of wealth without moral qualm” (Ellwood, 1991) as they were led by greed and religion. In the 1400s, religion and racism were legitimized by the church. The assimilation then and now has attempted to destroy Aboriginal Culture, which is a significant majority of their identity. Without a sense of cultural worth or identity, it can be detrimental for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginals. Michael J. Chandler and Christopher Lalonde from the University of British Columbia have shown that Aboriginal Youth who fail to “defend a sense of identity” (Chandler & Lalonde 1998) are more at risk to committing suicide. Studies regarding suicide in Aboriginal Youth directly relate to the culture within the community. In British Columbia, the Aboriginal bands “that has taken all of the protective steps outlined in this report have a youth suicide rate of zero, whereas bands in which all of these community actions are missing have youth suicide rates that are 5 to 100 times the provincial average” (Chandler & Lalonde 1998) increased culture can help prevent future deaths. The steps in the study all relate back to cultural continuity. Culture brings Aboriginal communities together, and from that the community itself it can strengthen within. Culture is the baseline that the community expands on, and in a strong community setting, is where Aboriginals find their deepest support. Antone from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) believes that “Aboriginal …show more content…
My Dad taught at an all-native high school in Stoon for 10 years, and although it could be argued that the students missed out on some opportunities by being there, the school made culture (prayer, language, dance, art, etc.) a part of their daily life, and that was great for a lot of kids, many of whom had a rough home life” (Pete, 2015). While some youth are unable to find the support they need in their communities, education surrounding their culture is still essential to their

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