Posted on 04 October 2010
Ottawa, October 4, 2010 -- The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples will be in Saskatchewan and Alberta from October 4 to 8, 2010, as part of its ongoing study on First Nations primary and secondary education.
“Our committee has long been concerned about the educational attainment and experiences of First Nations learners in Canada,” said Senator Gerry St. Germain, P.C., chair of the committee. “Education is a key component of individual and community well-being for First Nations people and a crucial path to better jobs and incomes.”
“The intent of our study is to consider what institutional supports would allow First Nations schools and educators to help improve the educational outcomes of primary and secondary students,” said Senator Lillian Dyck, deputy chair of the committee. “I am especially pleased the committee will be visiting schools in my home province of Saskatchewan and learning from local success stories.”
During the Saskatchewan portion of the committee’s fact-finding mission, senators will visit the Whitecap Dakota First Nation and Onion Lake Cree Nation, as well as Saskatoon. In Alberta, in addition to a full day of public hearings in Edmonton, the committee will conduct fact-finding activities in the local area, including a visit to the Amiskwaciy Academy.
Long concerned with the educational attainment of First Nations learners in Canada, the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples launched a nation-wide study in the spring of 2010 to seek potential strategies for educational reform to help primary and secondary students improve their educational outcomes. The study is being conducted in regional phases combining public hearings with fact-finding missions. To learn more about the study, visit the committee website: : http://senate-senat.ca/abor-autoch-e.asp.
The committee invites the media and all those interested to attend the following public hearing:
Edmonton - Thursday, October 7, 2010
9 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Westin Edmonton
Strathcona Room, Lobby Level
10135 100th Street
For more information, please contact:
Ceri Au
Communications Officer
613-944-9145
auc@sen.parl.gc.ca
Marcy Zlotnick
Committee Clerk
613-990-6080
zlotnm@sen.parl.gc.ca