Fostering Educational Success for Off-Reserve Aboriginal Learners on Prince Edward Island

Research Start-up Summary and Abstract:
The underlying force endorsing this research is to address the lack of accurate information pertaining to the successes, challenges, and needs of off-reserve Aboriginal learners in Prince Edward Island (PEI). Although 1,730 of the population of PEI self-identifies as First Nations, Metis, or Inuit, (Statistics Canada, 2010), about seven of ten Aboriginal people on PEI resides off-reserve (Statistics Canada, 2006). The purpose of this study is to describe the educational successes, challenges, and needs of off-reserve high school and adult Aboriginal learners in PEI. To achieve this purpose, we will conduct a total of six focus group interview with off-reserve Aboriginal parents and students and a total of 20 individual interviews with off-reserve Aboriginal parents, off-reserve Aboriginal students, and teachers of off-reserve students. As well, we will develop a quantitative survey for parents. Data will be analyzed via Western and Aboriginal epistemologies.

• 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.