As mentioned in Overcoming Prejudice, Québec’s Aboriginal population is very young, in fact much younger than the non-Aboriginal population. While that is an asset, it also poses a huge educational challenge, especially in several communities where, at times, up to 80% of students dropped out of high school.
However, student retention and success are not just a concern in the Aboriginal school system. Noting the low academic performance and high school graduation rate of Aboriginal students attending schools in non-Aboriginal school boards, the former Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport introduced a series of measures to increase educational success among Aboriginal students with special needs: support and assistance to ensure seamless integration; measures to counter prejudice and discrimination; promotion of Aboriginal awareness among school staff; and initiatives to better equip teachers to address the specific needs of Aboriginal students, to name a few. (Québec, MELS 2010)
Mobilization to tackle the key education, school dropout and employment challenges facing Aboriginal youth is palpable in communities and urban areas alike.
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Stacey family
Photo credit: Gino Carrier
Le Carrefour Secondary School in Val-D’or Leads by Example
Since fall 2011, the Le Carrefour secondary school in Val-d’Or has offered an elective course on Aboriginal culture and realities. The course was an initiative of the current vice-principal (Secondary IV and V), Marie-Pierre Nolet, in response to the school’s growing number of Aboriginal students. Nolet holds a Certificate in Aboriginal Studies from the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, which she says inspired her to develop the course, which she actually taught for a few years. (personal interview) The course covers the historical and contemporary realities of Aboriginal peoples
There are 11 Aboriginal nations recognized in Québec: Abenaki (Waban-Aki), Algonquin (Anishinabeg), Atikamekw Nehirowisiwok, Cree (Eeyou), Huron-Wendat, Inuit, Maliseet (Wolastoqiyik), Mi’gmaq (Micmac), Mohawk (Kanien’kehá:ka), Innu (Montagnais) and Naskapi. Across Canada, there are nearly sixty Aboriginal nations.
Thus, a person might say that they’re from the Naskapi First Nation of Kawawachikamach, or the Atikamekw First Nation of Manawan, or the Mohawk First Nation of Akwesasne, etc., identifying both the nation to which they belong and their place of origin or residence.
Photo credit: Polyvalente Le Carrefour, Val-d’Or
Photo credit: Polyvalente Le Carrefour, Val-d’Or
Wapikoni Mobile: A Voice for Indigenous Youth
Since 2004, a highly successful mobile studio equipped with the latest digital technology in filmmaking and music has been travelling to Aboriginal communities providing workshops for Indigenous youth to allow them to “learn by doing.”
Creating a mobile studio was the brainchild of film director Manon Barbeau. In the early 2000s, she was deeply affected by the number of youth suicides in First Nations
Wapikoni mobile travels to communities, where mentor professional filmmakers give workshops on screenwriting and directing as well as the more technical aspects of audiovisual production, such as camera, sound recording and editing. The results are astounding, in terms of both the quality of the videos and the originality of the short films produced by participants. Now an official UNESCO partner, Wapikoni’s current collection of nearly 1,150 shorts reflects the rich cultural heritage of contemporary Indigenous voices. Between 2004 and 2018, Wapikoni short films received nearly 170 awards and honours at prestigious national and international festivals. (www.wapikoni.ca) They provide valuable insight from bright and talented Indigenous youth.