AHS Program Resources
In this section of the website you will find specific information
about the National Aboriginal Head Start Council, the AHS Community
Exchange Program, International Exchanges, and about training. This
is public information, but it is posted here primarily for
Aboriginal Head Start caregivers.
About the National Aboriginal
Head Start Council
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Purpose of the NAHSC
The purpose of the National Aboriginal Head Start Council NAHSC
is to provide a forum for partnership between AHS Regional
Community Representatives and Health Canada. An Elder from the
community in which NAHSC meetings are held attends each meeting.
The NAHSC protects the integrity of the program and works towards
success and program excellence by:
- providing a voice for Aboriginal children, parents, families
and communities;
- committing to the "statement of beliefs and values about
children";
- adhering to the AHS Principles and Guidelines;
- contributing to the sharing of knowledge throughout all levels
of the program.
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Responsibilities of the NAHSC
- To develop, and oversee the implementation of national policies
and projects for the AHS program in the areas of training, national
evaluation, research, and others as appropriate.
- To lead national strategic planning for the program.
- To promote and advocate for program enhancements and expansion
to meet the needs of urban and northern Aboriginal communities
across the country.
- To act as a guardian to promote the spirit, and honour the
integrity of the program.
- To share information, ideas and knowledge that promote program
excellence.
- To provide analysis on program effectiveness.
- For more detailed information about the roles and
responsibilities of NAHSC community representatives and Health
Canada representatives, please read the NAHSC Terms of
Reference.
![About the NAHSC](../images/top.gif)
Membership on the NAHSC
AHS Community Representatives elected to the NAHSC are
affiliated with an AHS site, and are of Aboriginal ancestry. The
Aboriginal Community Representatives are selected by
provincial/territorial AHS bodies. The NAHSC consists of AHS
community representatives from provinces and territories that have
AHS projects, and Health Canada representatives as follows:
- 1 British Columbia representative
- 1 Yukon representative
- 1 Alberta representative
- 1 Northwest Territories representative
- 1 Nunavut representative
- 1 Saskatchewan representative
- 1 Manitoba representative
- 1 Ontario representative
- 2 Quebec representatives
- 1 Newfoundland and Labrador representative
- 1 Nova Scotia representative
- 1 New Brunswick representative
- 1 member from the Aboriginal Head Start section of the Division
of Childhood and Adolescence, Health Canada (National Office)
- 1 member representing Health Canada AHS Regional Program
Consultants
- 1 member representing Health Canada PPHB Regional
Directors
- 1 Metis, First Nations or Inuit Elder
![About the NAHSC](../images/top.gif)
Activities of the
NAHSC
The NAHSC has convened a variety of subcommittees that include
outside expertise to address a variety of topics such as evaluation
and training. Subcommittees work together to investigate, plan, and
develop recommendations which are presented to the full council.
The following subcommittees are actively involved in addressing
national issues as needed:
- Strategic Planning Subcommittee
- Training Subcommittee
- Evaluation Subcommittee
- Linkages/Exchanges Subcommittee
- National Training Workshop Subcommittee
- Dispute Resolution Subcommittee
![About the NAHSC](../images/top.gif)
About Community Exchanges
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Community Exchange
Program
Aboriginal Head Start (AHS) successfully piloted community
exchanges based on a peer to peer learning concept in 1998/1999.
The objectives for the Community Exchange Program provide
participants with excellent opportunities for a valuable personal
and professional learning experience.
The AHS Program has completed two years of successful community
exchanges within Canada. We continue to incorporate lessons learned
from each past exchange, and the program improves each year as a
result. Specific criteria for participation, clear learning
objectives, and detailed roles and responsibilities for the
exchange ensure that participants have a constructive
experience.
The Community Exchange Program is for Health Canada-funded,
Aboriginal Head Start sites in urban and northern communities. If
you are interested in learning more about the AHS Community
Exchange Program, contact the AHS National Office.
![About Community Exchanges](../images/top.gif)
Learning Objectives
- Increase and extend professional knowledge of the development,
implementation, and management of early intervention strategies for
Aboriginal children and their families through the sharing of
knowledge, resources and best practices;
- Develop a greater awareness and a deeper appreciation of the
similarities and differences which exist among Aboriginal groups in
different regions of the country, as well the adoption of new
ideas, ideologies and concerns;
- Take pride in and share own communities cultural heritage,
history and goals in the area of early childhood development;
- Pass on the knowledge accumulated from successful
implementation of the AHS program in terms of implementing the six
program components, innovative solutions to ongoing participant and
community challenges, evaluation results, and future plans;
- Expand the confidence, initiative and leadership skills
necessary to work collaboratively to uphold the AHS guiding
principles within own community;
- Develop a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship with
an AHS Program in another region.
![About Community Exchanges](../images/top.gif)
What Do
Participants Say About the Community Exchange Program?
"We have a better understanding of how to ask our Elders to
participate in our program"
"The exchange was quite the experience. We gained so much
knowledge about the Inuit culture and how it is implemented into
the program and curriculum"
"To our surprise, the whole community came out to honour us
... we never expected that kind of reception"
"Our major learning was how to work more with the parents
in our program"
"We will teach more Cree in our program as a result of the
things we learned during the exchange"
![About Community Exchanges](../images/top.gif)
About International Exchanges
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International Exchange
Program
AHS International Exchanges are in the developmental phase. An
exchange could involve a delegation of AHS community
representatives and Health Canada personnel who are directly
involved in the delivery of the AHS Program, and a delegation of
early childhood education professionals involved in the delivery of
AHS-like programs in Chile. Such an exchange would enable both
sides to learn about models and innovations in culturally
sensitive, community-based education.
Work has been underway for approximately one year. Extensive
investigation into appropriate Latin American countries and
potential partners has been conducted by AHS personnel with the
help of consultants. Chile has been designated as the country of
choice based on a variety of important criteria (i.e., Indigenous
populations, safety of travel, similarity of early intervention
programs). A detailed assessment of feasibility was completed along
with consultations with government officials, school officials and
community leaders in Chile. There has been a particular effort to
ensure that the Indigenous Chilean communities consent to and are
involved in the exchange.
In November of 2000 during the World Congress of the World
Organization for Early Childhood Education, a preliminary visit
with potential exchange partners in Chile was conducted. During
July and August of 2001, a three-person delegation with AHS
community representation representing AHS visited Aboriginal early
intervention programs in Chile. The goal was to investigate the
possibility of conducting a full International Exchange. A
delegation consisting of Richard Budgell (National Manager, AHS),
Audrey Waite (Coordinator, Comox Valley Aboriginal Head Start
Program) and Judith Bernhard (consultant) met with government
personnel responsible for Aboriginal preschool programs as well as
Indigenous community leaders and child care centres in August 2001.
The response from Chilean partners was very positive.
Planning for the next phase of the International Exchange
Program is underway. Stay tuned for more information.
![About International Exchanges](../images/top.gif)
Learning
Objectives
- Develop a greater awareness and a deeper appreciation of the
similarities and differences which exist among Indigenous
populations in different countries, as well the adoption of new
ideas, ideologies and concerns across borders;
- Acquire an understanding of how another country with Indigenous
populations conceptualizes early childhood
education/intervention;
- Come face to face with the people, languages, cultures and
history of Indigenous communities in Latin America who occupy
similar roles in the field of early childhood intervention;
- Increase and extend their professional knowledge of the
development, implementation, and management of early intervention
strategies for Indigenous children and their families through the
sharing of knowledge, resources and best practices;
- Take pride in and share their own countries and communities
cultural heritage, history and goals in the area of early childhood
development;
- Pass on the knowledge accumulated from five years of successful
implementation of the AHS program in terms of implementing the six
program components, innovative solutions to ongoing participant and
community challenges, evaluation results, and future plans;
- Gain insight into the challenges and efforts of Indigenous
communities in Latin America in the area of early childhood
development, preserving Indigenous culture and language, engaging
parents, elders and the community in programming, self government
and socioeconomic stability;
- Attain a better understanding of their roles as early childhood
educators and program administrators for Aboriginal people, and how
it fits into the larger political, social, and cultural context of
their work;
- Expand the confidence, initiative and leadership skills
necessary to work collaboratively to uphold the AHS guiding
principles within their own community;
- Develop a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship with
an early childhood development program in another country.
![About International Exchanges](../images/top.gif)
About Training
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About Training
There are national and regional training events. National
training is coordinated by the AHS National Office and regional
training is coordinated by Health Canada Regional Offices. The AHS
Program has determined that there is a critical need for a
coordinated and strategic plan that will guide the direction of
future training in the AHS Program. This involves input from AHS
community representatives, the National Aboriginal Head Start
Council (NAHSC), Health Canada Regional Offices and the National
Office. An AHS training plan will provide an effective,
well-coordinated and practical plan or framework for future
training in AHS.
Training needs are identified through feedback from AHS staff,
Health Canada Program Consultants, and local, regional and national
evaluation data. The Training Subcommittee of the National
Aboriginal Head Start Council (NAHSC) reviews training approaches
and programs that have been identified as potentially useful in
AHS, and decisions regarding the types of training offered
nationally are based on what fits best with AHS.
Often, a specific region or community identifies a training need
that is particular to their site, community or region. That type of
training is delivered on a local or regional basis. Most Health
Canada Regional Offices provide regular training and support to AHS
sites on a local or regional basis. Many regions also host an
annual Regional Training Workshop.
Currently, the training described on this website consists
mainly of training that is coordinated by the AHS National Office
and is offered to all AHS sites across Canada. Contact a AHS Program Consultant in your
respective region to find out more about regional training
opportunities.
![About Training](../images/top.gif)
National Aboriginal Head Start
Training Workshop
The National AHS Training Workshop is an annual three-day event
coordinated by the AHS National Office in Ottawa with assistance
from the region in which the workshop is held. The workshop is held
in a different city each year. It is a special event in the AHS
community and brings together approximately 400 AHS delegates and
guests from the north, south, east and west. A variety of workshop
sessions are provided in English, French and Inuktitut. Each year,
several seats are made available to First Nations Head Start On
Reserve Program delegates, and as of 2001, First Nations and Inuit
Child Care Program delegates.
Elders representing a variety of Aboriginal cultures participate
in each year's workshop and play a vital role in guiding
workshop activities, providing reflections and support. During the
event, an evening Banquet, Awards and Cultural Presentation is well
attended in which Aboriginal culture and the success of AHS is
celebrated. A trade show and AHS site displays are also a regular
part of workshop proceedings.
Each year, the workshop organizers choose a workshop
"theme" and sessions that reflect high-priority training
needs in AHS. Some workshop topics are repeated each year because
many topics are ever-changing and require ongoing training, and
because we encourage sites not to send the same person to the
workshop year after year. Some of the recurring workshop topics
include evaluation, curriculum development, special needs, parental
involvement and cultural programming.
- 2001 "Creating the Best Learning
Environments" ... Edmonton, Alberta
For the sixth national conference, the focus was on teachers and
educators. Sessions were offered on a variety of topics such as:
the Work Sampling System; FAS/FAE and special needs training;
incorporating local culture and language into curriculums; home
visiting; and a number of other early childhood development and
professional development workshops directed at educators. Special
guest speakers included: Don Burnstick performing his one-man play
"I am Alcohol"; the Honourable Ms. Pearl Calahasen,
Minster of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development in Alberta
who welcomed delegates and provided opening remarks; and Cherry
Kingsley, keynote speaker. The Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew
joined guests at the evening banquet to present the first-ever AHS
Volunteer of the Year Awards to three outstanding volunteers, and
to launch the new publication Johnny National, Super Hero by Tomson
Highway.
- 2000 "Parental Involvement, The Journey to
Success" ... Ottawa, Ontario
In 2000, the focus was on parental involvement. One parent from
each site across the country was sponsored by Health Canada to
attend. Sessions were offered on a variety of topics such as:
involving fathers; defining roles in AHS; increasing parental
participation; national AHS principles and guidelines; leadership
and motivation; High/Scope philosophy; program evaluation; Parent
Advisory Committees; and more. Special guest speakers included: Ian
Potter, Assitant Deputy Minster of the First Nations and Inuit
Health Branch of Health Canada who welcomed delegates and provided
opening remarks; and John Kim Bell, founder of the National
Aboriginal Achievement Awards. Susan Aglukark was the surprise
keynote speaker at the evening banquet, and she delighted guests by
performing "Amazing Grace" in Inuktitut.
- 1999 "Children of Promise - Tomorrows
Leaders" ... Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
This workshop included sessions on: traditional teaching tools;
asset building for children; partnering with parents; creating
safety for children; learning styles; language development;
evaluation; and more.
- 1998 "AHS - Strengthening Children and
Families" ... Ottawa, Ontario
The 1998 workshop provided a wide range of learning opportunities
for AHS staff, parents, board members and guests. Sessions were
offered on topics such as;FAS/FAE; conflict resolution; problem
solving; team work; culture in the classroom; early childhood
development; exploring culture with preschoolers; the High/Scope
approach; and more.
- 1997 "Building the Spirit of the Child" ...
Winnipeg, Manitoba
The 1997 workshop achieved a number of key objectives that assist
AHS sites in continuing to provide quality service to program
participants. Sessions focussed on: curriculum development;
training staff; preschool approaches; building resiliency in
children; and more.
- 1996 "Our Way" ... Edmonton,
Alberta
The goal of the first training workshop was to provide project and
community representatives with information and resources that would
be of use in the design and development of their projects. Sessions
focussed on: Aboriginal parenting; evaluation; sponsor
responsibility; nurturing environments; culture-based programming;
reinforcing traditional values; blending traditional beliefs;
strategic planning; and more.