Creating Cultural Connections Showcase of Learning!
How fulfilling would it be to tell your story of your journey? Come and celebrate your successes with everyone in our first annual Showcase of Learning! This event offers specifically designed learning opportunities that will support you in your everyday practice. We give your voice a platform to share your growing success. This event will support opportunities for round table discussions, a guest speaker, Piikani Elders, and presentations from participation programs.
All those eligible are encouraged to save the dates for our first annual Showcase of Learning. This is an amazing opportunity to connect with all the diverse programs that are engaged with this project and learn new things. Who’s eligible? Licensed Day Cares, Licensed Family Day home Agencies, Out of School Care Programs, Preschools, Head Start, and Innovative programs i.e. Women’s Shelters, Group Family Child Care Programs, Indigenous & Metis Programs, Isolated/Remote Licensed Programs in Southern Alberta.
Save the date for May.3-4, 2024
Showcase Presentations
We want all eligible groups to showcase the successes and the aha moments they have had since joining the project by putting together a presentation. This may include new ways of including families, individualized promotional materials you have developed, unique ways of engaging families and how you have supported children’s cultural diversities in your programs.
CCC Mentors are available to assist in developing your presentation to share virtually with programs. This is a great time for you to shine! All the work that you have put into making the four pillars of CCC visible in your centre will be seen by event participants in a slide show and will also be uploaded to the ARCQE’s website!
Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Jan Stewart
Topic of Discussion
Weaving Cultural Practice into the Early Years Environment: Supporting Children with Refugee Backgrounds
Globalization, the movement of people, and the state of the world’s children
- The Impact of War on Children
- Racism and Discrimination
- Building Culturally-Responsive Spaces and Practices
Trauma-Sensitive Schools and Safe Classrooms
- Fostering Mental Wellness for Refugee Children
- Building Conflict/Trauma Sensitive Schools and Communities
- A model for Trauma Informed Practice
Case Studies and Problem Solving
- Building Systems and Connections for Supporting Children from Refugee Backgrounds
- Therapeutic Activities to Support Psychosocial Development
Dr. Jan Stewart is Dean of Education and Professor in the Department of Educational Administration, Foundations, and Psychology at the University of Manitoba. Jan holds a PhD in Educational Administration from the University of Manitoba. She has worked in the field of Education in Manitoba for over 30 years including being a teacher and counsellor in K-12 public school system, a contract curriculum writer and consultant for the Province of Manitoba, and an educator for pre-service teachers and school counsellors. Jan was the lead investigator of a three-year national research program funded by SSHRC, CERIC, and Mitacs to examine best practices for supporting refugee and newcomer youth. She was the lead investigator of a research program exploring the mental health needs and challenges for refugee youth, and principal investigator of a SSHRC-funded study on the educational and psychosocial needs of Syrian refugees in Canada. She has led international research and teacher development programs in Zimbabwe, South Sudan, Lebanon, and Uganda and she has conducted national and international seminars and presentations around the world. Jan is the author of The Anger Workout Book for Teens, The Tough Stuff Series, The STARS Program, Supporting Refugee Children: Strategies for Educators, and Bridging Two Worlds: Supporting Newcomer and Refugee Youth. Jan has contributed numerous book chapters and articles focused on refugee education, trauma-informed practice, and mental health.
Maurice Little Wolf is a Blackfoot member of the Piikani First Nation that entered a Treaty with the British Crown in 1877. He is married to Betty Little Wolf formerly Crow Shoe of the Pikani Nation.
In 1993, Maurice was introduced and known as R.C.M.P’s only First Nations Elder Representative for the Aboriginal Policing Program in Canada and in 1997, was a sworn member of the R.CM.P as a full-time Elder Constable where he integrated his traditional knowledge of native beliefs consisting of spiritual, physical, emotional into his duties to assist others. Maurice was involved in the Alternative Measures program that is still being utilized by the Piikani Nation R.C.M.P, the Community Justice Forum and Healing circles which brings awareness to the First Nation and Canada. Over the years, Maurice witnessed firsthand the destruction and dysfunctional ways our youth suffered on/off the reservation. His work in implementing cross-cultural camps and workshops has helped in restoring the pride, dignity, respect, responsibility, and equilibrium that our people treasure and value. This work has been known to reach as far as the United States and Europe.
Currently, Maurice is the Commanding Officer’s Aboriginal Advisor for the R.C.M.P “K” division covering all of Alberta. In addition, he is a marriage commissioner for the province as well as a member of the Elders’ – Indigenous Bar Advisory Panel with the Federal Court Judges. Maurice and his wife Betty Ann are elders on the National Elders Council of Canada. He continues to be a member of Wisdom Keepers in the Turtle Lodge in Manitoba and Calgary Homeless.
BettyAnn Little Wolf is a knowledge Keeper and Spiritual Elder in the Blackfoot community and has been a member of Lethbridge College’s Indigenous Services Cultural Support Program since January 2019. As a dedicated Blackfoot Grandmother (Kaa’ahsinnoon) to the college community, Little Wolf provides students and employee with traditional knowledge, guidance, and support. Born and raised in Piikani Nation, Little Wolf was taken to residential school when she was 6 years old. After 10 years in the system, she enrolled in a public school, but an evaluation revealed that her education was equivalent to Gr. 3. It was her father that had Little Wolf tutored so she could graduate from high school.
Before joining Lethbridge College, Little Wolf served a Native Liaison at F.P Walsh High School in Fort Macleod and retired after 21 years with the Livingstone Rage School Division. Understanding the importance of education, Little Wolf later became involved in the creation and launch of “Coming Together in a Holistic Way: Lethbridge College Niitsitapi Strategy” where she is described as an embodiment of the values and mission of the college and brings knowledge and compassion to the institution while being a true champion of education.
Little Wolf is also a member of the Buffalo Women’s Society and sits on the National Elders Council of Canada within the Assembly of First Nations and shares the responsibility of being a knowledge keeper with 17 others for the Turtle Lodge Centre of Excellence in Indigenous Education and Wellness.
Christina Pickles is the founder of Get Outside and Play, an organization that advocates for more outdoor play for children in early learning and care settings, schools and communities. She delivers professional learning to educators, building their knowledge and confidence to support more outdoor play with children. Christina also explores the challenges to outdoor play facing early learning and care programs from a systems perspective. She lead the creation of the Outdoor Play in the Child Care Settings: Recommendations for Child Care Licensing in Alberta https://getoutsideandplay.ca/regulations/.