CAAS advisors, educators,
traditional teachers, Elders and
affiliated groups bring to our
work the perspectives of a
variety of First Peoples' cultures
and of Canadian regions.

If you have time, you may be interested to click here, to read a telling of our history that was composed in November, 2002, for the release of our national research report Learning About Walking in Beauty: Placing Aboriginal Perspectives in Canadian Classrooms. You may also be interested to take a quick look at a diagram representing our structure.

• Aboriginal Rights Coalition
• Aboriginal Teacher Education Program
  (Queen's University)
• All Native Circle Conference
  (United Church of Canada)
• Canadian Teachers Federation
• Faculty of Education at York University
• National Aboriginal Design Committee
  (Literacy Practitioners)
• Public Justice Resource Centre
• Tsi-niyukwaliho:tu
  (OneidaTraditional Learning Centre)

• Ann Pohl (Canadian of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage): Anti-racism, solidarity and human rights activist; a founding member and coordinator of CAAS - was the coordinator of its predecessor, the Aboriginal Curriculum Improvement Project. Ann has four children of her own and is "auntie" to several others. M.Ed Candidate at York University, Toronto.
  
• Beverley Jacobs (Mohawk): Traditional member of the Hotinohso:ni Confederacy at Six Nations Grand River Territory; LL.B., LL.M.; Owner of Bear Clan Consulting located at the Six Nations; Sessional lecturer at various universities in Ontario and Saskatchewan. She is currently articling with Mary Eberts at Eberts, Symes, Street & Corbett in Toronto, Ontario. Bev is a mother and grandmother.
• Bruce Elijah (Oneida): Spiritual teacher and internationally-respected decolonization educator; a Founding Elder of the CAAS and of Tsi-niyukwaliho:tu (the Traditional Onedia Learning Centre); is always on the road to people and communities that need his support.
• Carl James (Afro-Caribbean heritage): Professor of Education at York with specialization in anti-racism; within CAAS, his primary interest is what/how immigrant children learn about Aboriginal Peoples and the experience/s of Aboriginal Peoples within Canada.
• Celia Haig-Brown (Canadian of European ancestry): Ph.Ed.; much published on related topics, always in conjunction with Aboriginal scholars and educators. Director of Graduate Students at York University Faculty of Education; founding member of CAAS' Academic Advisory Circle. Worked for years as a classroom teacher.
• Damian MacSeáin (Canadian of Irish heritage): M.Ed./OISE - UofT; 3 years of teaching in 2 Omushkego Cree communities of Ontario's Hudson Bay Lowlands; interest in Indigenous issues extends to his Irish heritage; has an Aboriginal spouse and child; is developing elementary environmental science curricula with focus on Aboriginal contributions.
• Damian Solomon (Canadian of Afro-Caribbean heritage): Assistant Director of Professional Development Services for the Canadian Teachers Federation; previously a specialist in French and Spanish at the secondary level for many years; CTF representative to CAAS.
• Dan and Mary Lou Smoke (Seneca and Ojibway, respectively): Traditional Teachers in the London, Ontario area, Mary Lou and Dan have been involved with CAAS in a supportive role since before it started; they are both journalists - involved in presenting Aboriginal perspectives in print, radio and television media. They have one son and are also grandparents.
• David Anderson (Dene/Irish-Canadian ancestry): on leave from York Region District School Board to complete Ph.D. at OISE/UT; for 25 years a teacher, consultant, curriculum writer and teacher educator in Aboriginal and Anishinaabe education; with the Aboriginal Teacher Education Program at Queen's University & Masters of Indigenous Knowledge program at Seven Generations Education Institute in Fort Frances Ontario. David lives in River Drive Park, Ontario close to his two children.
• Ed. Bianchi (Canadian of Italian heritage): Aboriginal Rights Policy Advocate with KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiative; also with Friends of the Lubicon, founding member of the CAAS, on behalf of the Aboriginal Rights Coalition.
• George Frempong (a New Canadian, from Ghana): Professor at the Faculty of Education, York University, teaches teacher candidates to teach mathematics in ways that are relevant to the students, has a strong interest in research and a profound interest in decolonizing methodologies.
• Graham Reynolds (Canadian): Professor of History at the University College of Cape Breton; has taught race relations and cross cultural courses on the Mi'kmaq reserve at Eskasoni and is currently developing new strategies for incorporating Aboriginal content into the school curriculum.
• Harry Smaller (Canadian): PhD. (History of Education): Professor in the Faculty of Education at York University. Has an extensive background in alternative education approaches, as well as antiracism and destreamed education. His publications address gender privilege and imbalance, economic class and other social issues.
• Jacqueline Moore Daigle (Cree): Director of Aboriginal Teacher Education Program at Queen's University, Ph.D. candidate at OISE; for many years a classroom teacher and administrator in northern communities; a founding member of CAAS' Academic Advisory Circle.
• Nora Allingham (Canadian with mixed European and Aboriginal ancestry): Has worked extensively in anti-bias education with the provincial government (eg. on policy) and at community level (as an activist), as well as in academia (at York's Faculty of education). Currently teaching in China.
• Renee Abram (Oneida, Wolf Clan): Founding member of CAAS; Co-Coordinator until 2001; extensive background in media, communications, research, the arts and Native literacy programs; mother of one son; tries to live her life "in honour of my Grandfather Angus Abram and All My Relations..."
• Robin Buyers (Canadian of Scots ancestry): Professor at George Brown College, Toronto, teaches human rights law, history and other subjects in Community Worker Program; Facilitator, Coalition for a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash; member, National Coalition-Building Institute.
• Stan McKay (Fisher River Cree): The original mover behind CAAS and one of the CAAS' Elders; has been working on this initiative since 1993; past Moderator of the United Church of Canada; worked as schoolteacher in his youth; CAAS link to the All Native Circle Conference of the UCC.

• Angela Bosco (Canadian of Italian heritage): Completed intermediate/senior teacher training in 2000, and currently works teaching family studies among other subjects; mother of three sons; worked as a researcher compiling and reviewing Aboriginal Studies curricula for CAAS as her practicum placement.
• Anika Altiman (Ojibwe): Recently completed teacher training program at OISE/UT; entered the M.Ed. programme at UBC House of Indigenous Learning in Fall 2001; completed an internship with CAAS as Assistant Coodinator in Summer 2001.
• Arsinoée Quammie (New Canadian of African heritage): A classroom teacher in Montreal, also a human rights and anti-racism activist; active in the Montreal and Ottawa Conference of the United Church on social justice concerns.
• Astrid MacNeill (Aboriginal): An Aboriginal Education Advocate who has worked extensively on strategies for inclusion of Aboriginal perspectives in curriculum in both Canadian and Aboriginal learning centres, including the integration of Aboriginal traditional values in educational programs.
  
• Carol Grace Scott (Canadian): an elementary classroom teacher, working with the public school system for over 25 years. She has noticed a severe lack, even exclusion, of Aboriginal perspective within the curriculum, and discovered ways to include an awareness of Aboriginal issues and culture for her students, staff and board members. Often a lone voice in the mainstream education system, she believes in the return to kindness and inclusion of all.
• Charlotte Henay (Caribbean-Canadian of Aboriginal heritage): an elementary principal in the Toronto public school system; has been an educator and administrator in Aboriginal communities for most of her career. Her research and published work focus on First Nations' Peoples' access to education, mixed-race identity, anti-racist and decolonizing education.
• (Sister) Dorothy Moore (Mi'kmaq): has dedicated her life to service in the Church and education of young people; an inspiration towards the founding of the Coalition for the Advancement of Aboriginal Peoples; involved in cross-cultural work on Aboriginal Peoples' rights; helped develop outstanding Mi'kmaq Studies curriculum in Nova Scotia.
• Harry Kits (Canadian): Executive Director of sister organizations Citizens for Public Justice and the Public Justice Resource Centre, both dedicated to promoting education and discussion about social justice issues and public policy.
• Marlene Brant Castellano (Mohawk, Wolf Clan, Bay of Quinte Band): Professor Emeritus of Trent University (Native Studies); former Co-Director of Research for the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples; continues with consultations on social and cultural policy and practice while balancing growing commitments to five grand-children.
• Michele Sam (Ktunaxa Kinbasket): Working on MSW on Ktunaxa Kinbasket perception of the welfare of children (her home nation); is glad to hear about CAAS; has linked to CAAS "in its development stages..." as "a support and a connection" for people like her - the only Aboriginal person teaching in the Cranbrooke, B.C. area in a formal educational institution.
• Orien Corbiere (Ojibwe): Just completing the B.A./B.Ed. program at Lakehead University, with a major in Indigenous Learning which (as he puts it) is Native Studies; planning to teach at the intermediate/senior level; his vision for teaching Native Studies is to have a multi-disciplined approach which includes, Native Studies, Ojibwe, and English; uses the term Aboriginal Studies because he is Aboriginal and wants "to teach people about who we are and our issues".
  
• Renate Eigenbrod (a New Canadian of German heritage): Ph.D.; literature scholar; taught Canadian Aboriginal literatures at Lakehead University, Acadian University and Sandy Lake Reserve; developed award-winning high school curricula.
• Susan Dion (Lenape): For many years a classroom teacher and ESL instructor; recently completed her Ph.D. thesis at OISE/UofT, and is a Professor of Aboriginal Education in York University's Faculty of Education; contracted to design SAS Survey and coding system.
• Veronica Dyck (Métis): Has worked at all levels of the education system including several years with senior policy and resource development responsibilities; Co-Chair of the Manitoba-based Aboriginal Circle of Educators; involved with prototype Sharing Circles.

• Cathy Hunt, Canadian education activist:
  "I truly appreciate being pointed in the direction of appropriate resource materials so that together we can create a more just and peaceful society."
  
  
• Helen Victoros, Canadian student teacher:
  "I appreciate you sending out my request for information and forwarding on the responses."
  
  
• Jacqueline Skytt, Executive Assistant - Professional Development, Alberta Teachers' Association:
  "CAAS provides a unique national forum for provincial teachers' organizations to share information about Aboriginal education issues... I believe that CAAS will be a valuable resource to individual teachers and teacher organizations as we move forward on this important work."
  
  
• Marlene Brant Castellano (Mohawk), Professor Emeritus of Trent University:
  "I want to encourage your efforts to build a bicultural coalition that will have an impact on the extent and quality of Aboriginal Studies taught in this country. We need strategy and allies to make this happen."
  
  
• Shaun Hains - Grizzly Woman Who Packs Good Medicine, Edmonton teacher:
  "For many years it was a lonely place to be a teacher with Aboriginal heritage. Now I know this is changing."
  
  
• Theresa Robinson, Executive Office, Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association:
  "OECTA wishes you every success with your ongoing projects and programs, helping all students in Canadian schools learn about Aboriginal Peoples."