Creating Effective, High Quality Transition Experiences for Young Aboriginal Children and their Families

Research Start-up Summary and Abstract:
Vancouver Island University (VIU) has established a clear mandate to work in partnership with the First Nation communities and Aboriginal agencies in the region to improve educational opportunities for Aboriginal people and undertake various collaborative educational and research initiatives. Since 1983, Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre (TLAFC) and VIU have long standing partnership arrangements. TLAFC and the BC Regional Innovation Chair (BCRIC) for Aboriginal Early Childhood Development (AECD) have worked together since late winter, 2010 toBritundertake a collaborative action-research initiative that includes the design, development, implementation, research and evaluation of a TLAFC AECD program, Qeq (Baby) College. The Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network (UAKN) funded one of the projects that has contributed to the Qeq College AECD program, “Kindergarten Transitions II: A Scan of Existing Supportive Programs for Aboriginal Children and Families in BC” (2013).

• Nanaimo’s Urban Aboriginal Identity Population (2011, NHS)

  6.8% (6,505) of Nanaimo’s population identifies as Aboriginal, 8.1% (7,775) report having Aboriginal ancestry.
• 64.3% are First Nation, 31.9% are Metis, 1.1% are Inuit and 2.7% report having multiple or other Aboriginal identities.