Creation Stories: Creating Strong Families Through Our Stories 

Dr. Greg McKenna of Holland College (Applied Research), Neil Forbes, Education Superintendent Lennox Island (urban Aboriginal researcher), and Sharon O’Brien Director of the Mi’kmaq Family Resource Centre, have partnered on “Creation Stories” — a community-driven, early intervention, prenatal curriculum designed to empower and transform urban Aboriginal families’ abilities to understand their own parenting options through shared reflections on their personal stories.

Research Start-up Summary and Abstract:

The purpose is to promote better health and educational outcomes for individuals and families and enhance well-being of urban aboriginals by developing an early education and literacy program.The research objective is to establish a culturally grounded curriculum for a pre-natal and early year’s program for expectant or Aboriginal parents (newborn to 3 years of age) in urban settings.
This project aims at combining traditional ways of knowing and teaching with relevant and effective research, our team hopes to create a model to empower and enrich the lives of urban aboriginals during the early period of parenthood. Not only will this support cultural identity during a critical period of transition, but it will be another step in creating a community that supports culture and knowledge.

• Prince Edward Island Urban Aboriginal Identity Population (2011, NHS)

  40.3% of Prince Edward Island’s Aboriginal population lives in urban areas. 1.6% (2,230) of Prince Edward Island 's population identifies as Aboriginal, 3.2% (4,455) report having Aboriginal ancestry.
• 68% are First Nation, 18% are Metis, 2.5% are Inuit and 10.5% report having multiple or other Aboriginal identities.