Perceptions of Postsecondary Education in a Northern Ontario Community

• Main Author: Nardozi, Angela
• Other Authors: Muzzin, Linda
• Language: en_ca
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Aboriginal; Postsecondary Education; Northern Ontario; First Nations; Education; 0745
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/29483

From my position as ally to an Anishnawbe community in Northern Ontario, I explored the relationships of community members to postsecondary education. Eight current and former students, a teacher at the school and a band councilor, shared with me their experiences and their knowledge about the Community and its school system. The data revealed that in Northern Ontario, the transition from the on-reserve school system to whitestream education at any level is very difficult for Community members, and is exacerbated by family violence and tensions and a perception of lower quality teaching and resources in the community schools. Participants also chose more college programs when first entering postsecondary education, and attended the college in the nearby town most frequently. Suspicion of and isolation from the whitestream school system as a result of the impact of residential schools still exists, and continues to have an effect on community participation in education.