Ashoka Canada Launches “Inspiring Approaches to First Nations, Métis and Inuit Learning”

Ashoka Canada Launches “Inspiring Approaches to First Nations, Métis and Inuit Learning”

(October 26, 2011/Toronto) Ashoka Canada announces the launch of “Inspiring Approaches to First Nations, Métis and Inuit Learning”―an online community of action known as the Changemakers Initiative, which connects social entrepreneurs around the globe to share ideas, inspire, and mentor each other. Inspiring Approaches enables participants to discuss and share innovative ideas and to comment and vote on entries through an open, online platform. 

A first in Canada, the Initiative is a unique collaboration of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups including philanthropic and citizen sector organizations brought together under the leadership of Ashoka Canada. Their mission: to look for innovative ideas that respond to the question: “How can lifelong education achievement levels of First Nations, Métis and Inuit learners in Canada be improved?” 

The Changemakers online platform creates an opportunity for a respectful, open community forum to spark new conversations and collaborations to support better learning environments, programs, and outcomes. Participants submit their ideas online at http://www.changemakers.com/fnmi-learning and become eligible for more than 30 awards ranging from $500 to $5,000. Finalists will be determined by the Initiative’s independent judges―leading Aboriginal people with diverse backgrounds in learning―selected by Ashoka Canada and the Initiative’s partners. For some of the awards, there will be an online community vote to choose the winners from among the finalists. 

“Prizes are just the start,” says Stephen Huddart, President and Chief Executive Officer of the J. W. McConnell Family Foundation. “The real impact of Inspiring Approaches is realized when funders and policy-makers get behind the best ideas and support their dissemination.”

Support expressed by National Aboriginal Organizations:

“Inspiring Approaches is an excellent way to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations in our communities who strive to make a difference in Inuit education,” says Mary Simon, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. “The Initiative clearly complements the work of our National Committee on Inuit Education.” 

“We applaud and support this Changemakers Initiative and wish to express our appreciation for the leadership shown by Ashoka Canada,” says National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, Assembly of First Nations. “Linking agents of change within our communities to resources and the broader community of innovators is an excellent way to enable, support and rapidly increase the rate and pace of innovation and change among all First Nations across Canada.” 

Betty Ann Lavallée, National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP), says the Initiative is one which would greatly benefit CAP’s constituency. “The Changemakers Initiative holds the potential to benefit all of the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada.”

Clément Chartier, President of the Métis National Council, “Education is the key to so many successes in life and we’ve learned that it really does take an entire community to support and encourage our Métis learners to strive and achieve excellence. It’s through forward thinking initiatives like the Changemakers Initiative that we can promote learning through the sharing of unique, creative and practical ideas brought to the table through the online community. This Initiative takes community engagement to the next level – I have no doubt that Métis across the Homeland will benefit as a result of this initiative.”

The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) has added their support. As CTF President, Paul Taillefer, affirms, “the educational successes of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students continue to be a priority for the Federation.” 

Partners for the initiative include: the Ashoka Changemakers, Chagnon Foundation, the Counselling Foundation of Canada, Donner Canadian Foundation, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, the J. W. McConnell Family Foundation, Mamow Sha-way-gi-kay-win: North South Partnership for Children, Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative, Ontario Trillium Foundation, RBC Foundation, Small Change Fund, and Vancouver Foundation. 

Changemakers.com is one of the world’s most robust spaces for launching, discussing, and scaling ideas to solve the world’s most pressing social problems. Changemakers builds on Ashoka’s three-decade history and vision for an “Everyone A Changemaker” world by creating a place where the best ideas in social innovation can be shared, refined, and funded.

Visit Inspiring Approaches online at http://www.changemakers.com/fnmi-learning

Please contact

Elisha Muskat

Ashoka Canada

Tel:  416-646-2333

Email: fnmi-learning@ashoka.org