This site has been designed to grow with the CAAS as we develop and expand over the coming months and years. Shortly you will find information on this page about our upcoming outreach and public education plans.

Meanwhile, why not get involved with Teacher Teach Teachers "Best Practices"? There are two different levels to this research project. The first - called "One Thing You Do" - is a one-question interview designed to cull favourite teaching strategies and approaches that other educators can pick up and use. The second is an intensive, narrative-style research project which is slowly coming together - it will ultimately be useful in producing comprehensive sets of professional development resources.

One Thing You Do...

Can you help CAAS identify quality Aboriginal Studies teaching strategies, approaches, resources & content?
CAAS wants to 'pick the brains' of teachers who have found ways to bring their students to a deeper understanding of, and respect for, First Peoples' history, culture and world-view. Perhaps you can contribute some ideas or suggestions on successful approaches, strategies and/or materials for handling this content within Canadian schools.. Maybe you know someone else who would. If you would like to support our work, please take the time to answer this question (printed here in Word format, but available in others: One Thing You Can Do...

Especially if you are a teacher of non-Aboriginal heritage, you may be wondering what do I have to contribute? You may feel shy or reluctant to put yourself forward as a person who demonstrates Best Practices on Aboriginal Studies. But, the very fact that you are reading this indicates that you already have an interest in our issues and focus. You may have learned or developed something from which others could benefit... We call our project Teachers Teach Teachers because our model for this professional development work is a learning network or circle which will promote mentoring, sharing and cross-cultural dialogue.

To use your words for these professional development purposes, we require your consent. We have attached a copy of a permission form. If you are in agreement that we can use your response, please complete, date and sign this form. Then we ask you to mail it back to us (see our address on the Contact Us page.).

In-Depth "Best Practices" Research

We need your help.
The Coalition for the Advancement of Aboriginal Studies is calling on you to help us identify Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal teachers who are considered to be doing a good job of this teaching. They may be English or Social Studies teachers or First Nations Studies teachers or none of the above. The teachers we seek are distinguished by their ability to work with elementary and secondary school students, both non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal, to bring them to a deeper understanding of and respect for the historic and contemporary First Peoples of this land.

What do we want from you?
We ask that you nominate someone whom you see fitting the criterion above. You may also decide to nominate yourself.

How do you make this nomination?
Please address your nomination to us via mail or email as identified under the "Contact Us" button. We also ask that you include contact information for the person nominated, and some description that illustrates why you consider this individual demonsrates Best Practices.

Why do we want to get introduced to these 'exemplary' teachers?
We want to build our network. More importantly, we want to learn from these excellent teachers. How did they learn to do their job so successfully? What special resources have they found or developed? What are their teaching strategies, especially when dealing with very sensitive issues? What advice can they offer to other teachers who are trying to improve their skills in this area?

How Far Have We Got?

We have already received a number of nominations for our in-depth interviews. One of our Academic Advisors, David Anderson, did field test surveys with two candidates.

We then began contacting those who were nominated, asking for their time to share some of their skills and experience. We have started this research process with the "One Thing YOU Do" question. You can find some answers to that question posted on "Sharing Successes".

However, we know there are many more undiscovered pearls in Canadian classrooms, so we look forward to hearing from you. Thank you in advance for helping us in this work, which has the goal of improving knowledge of, and ultimately relations between, the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Peoples of Canada.

Chi Miigwetch! to all those who are willing to help us.

PLEASE - Come back and visit this page again soon.