There is little doubt that cultural erosion has been occurring in Native communities across Canada for over a century. Many would point to the late 19th century, when thousands of Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their homes and put into Catholic boarding schools, as the starting point for the government’s planned stripping away of native culture in an effort to “assimilate.” Culture was literally denied to the point of native language being forbidden in education (Huang, 2009). Being cut off from their families they were also cut off from their language, traditions, and means of transmitting their culture.
Some of the most revealing evidence today, with regard to Aboriginal culture loss, is the continued decline of individuals able to speak native languages. In 1996, 29% of individuals who identify themselves as aboriginal reported being able to converse in an Aboriginal language (Norris, 2007). In 2006, this fell to 24%, 21% in 2006, and 17% in 2011 (Statistics Canada, 2011). These statistics are troubling to say the least and we are at a point in time where significant efforts are being made to save and protect the unique culture and traditions of hundreds of Aboriginal bands across Canada.
The key to culture restoration, as many see it, is education. Suzanne Stewart, Aboriginal Scholar and contributor to indigenous education initiatives, once aptly said:
“Education is an urgent issue for our people right now because, again, education was once the tool of oppression. Now education is the tool for empowerment for our people, to help us learn how to adapt to the western world and for the western world to learn how to adapt to our traditional ways of teaching and learning (Stewart, 2011).”
Some of the most revealing evidence today, with regard to Aboriginal culture loss, is the continued decline of individuals able to speak native languages. In 1996, 29% of individuals who identify themselves as aboriginal reported being able to converse in an Aboriginal language (Norris, 2007). In 2006, this fell to 24%, 21% in 2006, and 17% in 2011 (Statistics Canada, 2011). These statistics are troubling to say the least and we are at a point in time where significant efforts are being made to save and protect the unique culture and traditions of hundreds of Aboriginal bands across Canada.
The key to culture restoration, as many see it, is education. Suzanne Stewart, Aboriginal Scholar and contributor to indigenous education initiatives, once aptly said:
“Education is an urgent issue for our people right now because, again, education was once the tool of oppression. Now education is the tool for empowerment for our people, to help us learn how to adapt to the western world and for the western world to learn how to adapt to our traditional ways of teaching and learning (Stewart, 2011).”
It's widely recognized by aboriginal leaders that education reform is necessary and one can see why when we examine the numbers. In 2012 the Assembly of First Nations reported graduation rates for aboriginal students between 2004 and 2009 in Canada were at 36% compared to 72% for non-aboriginals. Education, in any form (spoken word or written), is the primary means of culture transmission. As Dr. Lee Brown (n.d.) and several others have pointed out, aboriginal students leave educational institutions because they cannot relate to what is being taught. In essence, there is a lack of native culture representation and needs are not met.
It is the intention of the authors of this site to show how technology can and has been used to protect, facilitate, and restore culture. We recognize that technology has had it's drawbacks for aboriginal communities as it has certainly been a tool used in aiding colonization efforts and extending their effects. However, we believe, similar to Stewarts belief in education, that technology can be transformed from oppression to empowerment.
Within this site you will find information from several voices on both sides of the technology and culture debate in Native communities. We will present evidence, in the form of initiatives, that will show culture can and has been aided by technology. Through this process we hope to show that indeed technology is a tool and it is the individuals that use that tool who determine its positive or negative outcomes.
It is the intention of the authors of this site to show how technology can and has been used to protect, facilitate, and restore culture. We recognize that technology has had it's drawbacks for aboriginal communities as it has certainly been a tool used in aiding colonization efforts and extending their effects. However, we believe, similar to Stewarts belief in education, that technology can be transformed from oppression to empowerment.
Within this site you will find information from several voices on both sides of the technology and culture debate in Native communities. We will present evidence, in the form of initiatives, that will show culture can and has been aided by technology. Through this process we hope to show that indeed technology is a tool and it is the individuals that use that tool who determine its positive or negative outcomes.
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