Honoring Local Aspirations: Beaufort Education Council (NWT) and Nunavut Pilot Studies
Primary researcher
Dr. Brian Lewthwaite, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba
Description of proposed research
This multi-year project is based in two locations; the Beaufort Region of the Northwest Territories and Central Nunavut. The project begins by determining aspirations for science education in selected Aboriginal (both First Nation and Inuit) communities. The study then identifies factors influencing Elementary and Middle Years science delivery according to these aspirations in selected communities within these two regions. The selection of communities is based on Local Education Authority decision for degree of emphasis on local culture, in particular language, in the delivery of science. The Nunavut study focuses on developing mechanisms to promote science instruction in a community where Inuktitut is the designated language of science instruction. The Beaufort study focuses on the development of Aboriginal teacher-leaders to foster the development of a school-based science program that honors the requests of the Local Education Authority primarily in terms of local culture, which may or may not include the local Aboriginal knowledge. Both studies parallel research ongoing in New Zealand kura kaupapa Maori schools. Practical outcomes of the study include the likely development of a resource for Inuktitut teachers that addresses in Inuktitut (1) science knowledge specific to both an Inuktitut and western science worldview and (2) the development of a diagnostic instrument to assist in the identification of factors influencing science delivery in Aboriginal settings.
