Media Advisory - Experiences of Aboriginal Teachers: Focus of New Study

OTTAWA, March 8 /CNW Telbec/ - A major study of the professional knowledge and experience of Aboriginal teachers in Canadian public schools will be released Wednesday, March 10, at a special Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) symposium on Aboriginal education. The study was commissioned by the CTF and its advisory committee on Aboriginal education and funded by the Canadian Council on Learning.

The study, authored by Verna St. Denis, Ph.D., associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan, interviewed 59 Aboriginal teachers teaching in public schools across Canada.

Data collection focused on four areas, including the philosophy of teaching, integrating Aboriginal content and perspectives into the curriculum, racism in education, and allies of Aboriginal education.

The following are details of the event:

    
    Date:      Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - 1:30 p.m.

    Location:  Canadian Teachers' Federation
               2490 Don Reid Drive
               Ottawa ON K1H 1E1
               Canada

    Format:    Greetings and introductory remarks by CTF President
               Mary-Lou Donnelly.

               CTF Vice-President Diane Woloschuk, chair of the CTF Advisory
               Committee on Aboriginal Education, will moderate the event and
               provide background on the research project.

               Author Verna St. Denis, Ph.D., will present her research
               findings and take questions from symposium participants.

               A reception will follow.
    

Founded in 1920, the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) (www.ctf-fce.ca) is a national alliance of provincial and territorial teacher organizations that represent nearly 200,000 elementary and secondary school teachers across Canada. CTF is also a member of the international body of teachers, Education International (www.ei-ie.org).

    
    Comments:  Mary-Lou Donnelly, CTF President
               Verna St. Denis, Ph.D., author of the study
               Paul Cappon, CCL President & CEO
    

For further information: Francine Filion, Director of Communications, [phone] or [phone] (cell)