Reports/Rapports : Focus on Rural Ontario - Employment, Working Age Population and Aboriginal Identity

Source: ROI.
Rural Ontario is experiencing different employment challenges than urban areas. For example, the patterns of job growth and decline are currently heading in different directions. Three new Focus on Rural Ontario fact sheets feature employment-related information and another looks at the Aboriginal Identity population in Ontario.

Based on Statistics Canada data, these easy-to-read fact sheets highlight the changing dynamics of rural Ontario’s population, communities and economies. Many larger public organizations have statistical analysts who can access Statistics Canada data directly. For the many who do not have this capacity, the Rural Ontario Institute commissioned this series to help build understanding of key demographic and economic trends affecting this huge region of our province. The fact sheets separate Statistics Canada information into short, digestible snapshots highlighting fundamental information, in an attempt to make it accessible to all.

All Focus on Rural Ontario fact sheets can be downloaded from the Rural Ontario Institute website at http://ruralontarioinstitute.ca/resources-reports/

ROI gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of Ontario in making these fact sheets possible. Detailed inquiries as to statistical sources and definitions can be directed to the author Ray Bollman at RayD.Bollman@sasktel.net.

WWW: www.ruralontarioinstitute.ca

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Reports/Rapports : Community Engagement In Rural-Remote and Indigenous Local Government, Australia

Source: Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government.
ACELG has released a new study that considers whether rural-remote and Indigenous local governments (RRI) in Australia have developed robust community engagement processes.

The research explored:

1. What community engagement RRI local government in Australia undertakes.

2. Barriers and unique challenges RRI local governments face when engaging with their communities.

3. Community engagement strategies and methodologies RRI local governments find effective and ineffective.

4. Gaps in the community engagement knowledge and resources of RRI local government, and

5. The most useful options for improving community engagement by RRI local government.

Findings confirm the varying capacity of RRI local governments in engaging with their communities, and key observations include:

1. RRI local government generally recognises the central role of community engagement in supporting local government to effectively perform its role but overall these practices are still largely in their developmental phase.

2. Top challenges to RRI local government community engagement related to internal capacity constraints, community capacity constraints and external factors.

3. The most practical options for supporting RRI local government community engagement related to council and community education, internal community engagement skill development and engaging culturally diverse groups.

Read full report.
Read summary.

WWW: http://www.acelg.org.au/news-detail.php?id=273

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Thesis/Thèse : Perspectives of Northern Researchers, Residents and Educators on Science Education and Outreach in Yukon

Source: Dalhousie University.
"International Polar Year 2007-2008 renewed interest in and funding for circumpolar research. One unique element of this International Polar Year was the focus on education and outreach initiatives. This study explores outreach stakeholders’ perspectives on conducting science outreach with northern Canadian schools."

"A total of sixty semistructured interviews were conducted with northern researchers, residents and educators to determine culturally appropriate and pedagogically suitable methods for educational outreach initiatives in the Canadian north."

Frances Kathryn Pottle Ross (2012). Perspectives of Northern Researchers, Residents and Educators on Science Education and Outreach in Yukon, Canada. School for Resource and Environmental Studies. Dalhousie University. Halifax, Nova Scotia.

WWW: dalspace.library.dal.ca

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Call for papers/Appels de communications : Rural Medicine Australia 2012 – Demonstrating the Diversity

Source: Rural Medicine Australia 2012. The Academic Committee for Rural Medicine Australia 2012 invites you to submit an abstract for an oral presentation or poster to be considered for inclusion in this year's scientific forum. The theme for the conference is: "Rural Medicine Australia 2012 – Demonstrating the Diversity." To have your research considered for inclusion in this, the 7th Scientific Forum, it should have a focus relevant to one of the following sub-themes: * Rural and remote clinical medicine and health priorities * Rural and remote workforce and training pathways * Indigenous health * eHealth / teleHealth Closes: Friday June 29, 2012 Read the full call for abstracts WWW: www.acrrm.com.au

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Thesis/Thèse : Close to the land: Connecting northern Indigenous communities and southern farming communities through food sovereignty

Source: University of Manitoba.
"Southern rural farming communities and northern Indigenous communities in the Prairie Provinces of Canada each experience the Globalized Agri-Food System (GAFS) as detrimental to their food sovereignty."

"This study explores the Northern food crisis from an Indigenous perspective. It examines the degree to which rural-settler and Indigenous food sovereignty initiatives can benefit by combining their resistance to the GAFS through North-South collaborative networks, and the pivotal role that youth and youth learning might play in achieving these ends."

Rudolph, Karlah Rae, 2012. Close to the land: Connecting northern Indigenous communities and southern farming communities through food sovereignty.Department of Environment and Geography. University of Manitoba.

Download PDF.

WWW: http://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca

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Studies/Études : Increasing The Resilience of BC’s Rural Communities to Natural Disturbances and Climate Change

Source: BC Journal of Ecosystems and Management.
"Rural forest-based communities are especially vulnerable to changes in natural disturbance regimes influenced by climate change because their economic, social, and cultural aspects of life are closely linked to the local environment and climate."

"In this article, we discuss the impacts of wildfires on communities as an example of how natural disturbances impact humans. The impacts to humans of wildfire is indicative of the type of effects that other natural disturbances such as widespread insect infestation, landslides, floods, drought, storms, avalanches, permafrost melt, forest diseases, erosion, and gradual ecosystem change can have on communities. First Nations communities may be significantly and uniquely impacted by natural disturbances and climate change due to their remote location, strong connection, and heavy reliance on the environment for subsistence and in preserving their culture and their unique and often vulnerable economic situation."

Krishnaswamy, A., Simmons, E., & Joseph, L. 2012. Increasing the resilience of British Columbia’s rural communities to natural disturbances and climate change. BC Journal of Ecosystems and Management 13(1):1–15.

WWW: www.jem.forrex.org

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Thesis/Thèse : Developing a Sense of Place in Rural Alberta: Experiences of Newcomers

Source: University of Alberta.
"This narrative inquiry uses the talking circle, a discourse process indigenous to the North American prairies, to explore the experiences of recent international migrants to rural Alberta."

"The immediate intention is to address questions of rural revitalization and the creation of welcoming communities. At a deeper level, it explores the role of history, cultural negotiation, and power relations in community development. It examines place as a critical element of human experience, which has been severed under modern economic regimes. Recommendations for how we might best respond to rural migration challenges include processes for listening and responding to needs, for building trustworthy relationships, and a call to recognize Aboriginal history. Findings also point to the importance of facilitating options for migrants with temporary status in a transient global context. The study advises that learning through attentive intercultural discourse could be integral to recreating democratic communities and establishing sense of place."

Heather Mae Plaizier. Developing a Sense of Place in Rural Alberta: Experiences of Newcomers. A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education
in Adult Education, Educational Policy Studies.

Read full document.

WWW: http://repository.library.ualberta.ca/dspace/index.jsp

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Rapports/Reports : Le retour des jeunes enfants dans la communauté algonquine de Kitcisakik : une recherche-action

Source: Chaire Desjardins en développement des petites collectivités (UQAT).
La problématique concerne le fait que les habiletés parentales traditionnelles dans la communauté ont été usurpées de la communauté dans l’expérience du pensionnat pour enfants autochtones et, depuis lors, oubliées suite à plus de 50 années de scolarisation des enfants hors de leur milieu de vie.

De plus, les parents de cette communauté n’avaient aucun modèle ni expérience d’être parent, à temps plein, d’enfants qui fréquentent l’école primaire. Dans la phase I de la recherche, les besoins des parents et de la communauté, ont été identifiés. Dans les phases II, III et IV, il s’agissait de répondre à ces besoins par la mise en oeuvre de diverses actions d’un programme global pour combler les besoins exprimés lors de la phase I.

La question de recherche : Quel serait le type de programme le plus adéquat pour répondre à leurs besoins et pour améliorer le bien-être communautaire, celui des enfants en particulier? Son objectif principal : Répondre aux besoins exprimés par les intervenants et les membres de la communauté en phase I de la présente recherche, par la mise en oeuvre d’un programme d’intervention visant trois cibles : 1) affective, le lien d’attachement en particulier; 2) de la vie quotidienne, les routines et l’implication des parents dans les travaux scolaires des enfants en particulier; 3) culturelle-scolaire, mise en oeuvre d’un Groupe de mobilisation de parents (GMP) et de cours de langue et de culture algonquines ainsi que l’implication des aînés dans l’école « pour une école qui nous ressemble ».

Loiselle, M., Bourdaleix-Manin, A.-L. et Potvin, M. (2011). Le retour des jeunes enfants dans la communauté algonquine de Kitcisakik : une recherche-action visant l’engagement de la communauté envers la santé et le bien-être des enfants. Rapport de recherche : Phases II, III et IV. Rouyn-Noranda : Chaire Desjardins en développement des petites collectivités (UQAT).

Lien pour le rapport.

WWW: http://web2.uqat.ca/chairedesjardins/index.asp

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Webinars : Le retour des jeunes enfants à Kitcisakik : résultats d’une recherche-action participative

Source: Chaire Desjardins, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
La conférence présentera les principaux résultats de la recherche-action participative « Le retour des jeunes enfants dans la communauté algonquine de Kitcisakik : une recherche-action visant l’engagement de la communauté envers la santé et le bien-être des enfants ».

Le processus a duré de 2006 à 2011 auprès de la communauté algonquine de Kitcisakik et portait sur la mise en place et l’évaluation d’un programme d’intervention visant à répondre aux besoins des familles dont les enfants allaient être scolarisés pour la première fois dans la communauté. Elle fera état des positionnements et constats éthiques, méthodologiques et analytiques d’une telle recherche.

Marguerite Loiselle (professeure retraitée, UQAT, Micheline Potvin (professeure retraitée, UQAT), Anne-Laure Bourdaleix-Manin(coordonnatrice générale de recherche), Christine Joly (étudiante à la maîtrise, UQAT et intervenante au Centre Jeunesse de l’A.- T.). Le 8 septembre 2011.

Visionnez la conférence.

WWW: codian.uqat.ca

WWW: http://web2.uqat.ca/chairedesjardins/

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Reports/Rapports : Putting the 'Last-Mile' First: Re-framing Broadband Development in First Nations and Inuit Communities

Source: Simon Fraser University.
This report highlights the leadership shown by First Nations and Inuit communities in the development of broadband infrastructure and use of information and communication technologies.

Project partners are Simon Fraser University, the University of New Brunswick, Keewaytinook Okimakanak, Atlantic Canada's First Nation Help Desk, the First Nations Education Council, and the First Nations Technology Council.

Download report.

Further details on the report, and the process leading to the final report, are available at: http://www.sfu.ca/cprost/tacs.html

As well, as an outcome of the project, a group led by the report partners, Regional First Nation IT Networks, and First Nations connectivity leaders across Canada began steps to form the First Mile Connectivity Consortium (FMCC). FMCC will be a national consortium emerging as an outcome of the collaborative process leading to the First Mile report, and an expressed desire from participants to continue the momentum.

Although founded by and originally focused on First Mile solutions for First Nations communities in remote and rural Canada, the FMCC will welcome members from anywhere who share its goals and principles. FMCC's goal is to provide a forum for broadband development organizations to learn from each other, and share practices and results with everyone interested, including those who are involved in the process of crafting broadband policy decisions.

The FMCC will meet regularly, disseminate information, nurture community-driven projects, and encourage adoption of its principles by communities, information sector players, and government.

Look for FMCC updates on the consortium website: www.firstmile.ca

For more information on the report and/or the FMCC, please contact Rob McMahon:
rma29@sfu.ca

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Presentations/Présentations : Understanding Indigenous Economic Development in Northern, Rural, and Remote Settings

Source: Community Development Institute, UNBC.
As part of its work with the University of the Arctic’s Thematic Network on Local and Regional Development, UNBC’s Community Development Institute (CDI) and the Aboriginal Business and Community Development Centre jointly hosted the “Understanding indigenous economic development in northern, rural, and remote settings” workshop.

The goal was to produce a rich dialogue that could enhance our understanding of key barriers and opportunities related to successful indigenous economic development both on reserves and in urban Aboriginal communities.

The workshop brought together thirty-one individuals, institutions, academics, and practitioners who are actively involved in indigenous economic development in the North, and three of the University of the Arctic’s Thematic Networks – Local and Regional Development, Northern Governance, and Northern Tourism – were represented.

Workshop Presentations.

WWW: www.unbc.ca/cdi/index.html

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Reports/Rapports : ICT to Support Health and Wellness in Remote and Rural First Nations Communities

Source: National Research Council Canada.
This report is a comprehensive overview of how remote and rural First Nations and their partners and collaborators are using information and communication technologies (ICT) to support health and wellness in their communities.

The report authors hope it will be useful for evidence-based program and policy development. It may also spark ideas about how ICT can be improved and new technologies developed to meet community needs.

"Many of the more than 600 First Nations communities across Canada are located in rural or remote areas. Each has a distinctive culture and history and a diversity of healthcare needs. Most rural and remote First Nations communities have no resident clinicians. A visit by a clinician to a remote community may require a series of expensive flights on a small plane or a 10-hour drive on a temporary winter road. A trip by a rural First Nations resident to the nearest health centre may take two, three, and often four or more hours by vehicle on rough or unpaved roads. It is obvious that health services delivery in remote and rural First Nations will be different than health services delivery in urban locations."

Download report.

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Event/Événement : Aboriginal Strategies 2009/Stratégies autochtones 2009, November /novembre

Le texte en français suit l’anglais.
Source: Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada presents Aboriginal Strategies 2009, a solutions-based three-day conference on how data is being used in Aboriginal communities in the western provinces and northern territories.


This event will take place November 3-5, 2009 in Edmonton, Alberta. [For more information, visit: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/conferences/ab2009-sa2009/index-eng.htm.]

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Statistique Canada présente Stratégies autochtones 2009, une conférence de trois jours axée sur les solutions au cours de laquelle on décrira la manière dont les données sont utilisées dans les collectivités autochtones des provinces de l’Ouest et des territoires du Nord. Cet événement aura lieu du 3 au 5 novembre 2009 à Edmonton, en Alberta. [Plus de plus amples renseignements, consultez : http://www.statcan.gc.ca/conferences/ab2009-sa2009/index-fra.htm.]

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Report/Rapport : First Nations Forestry Program, Success Stories 2009

Le texte en français suit l’anglais.
Source: Natural Resources Canada / Ressources naturelles Canada
Forests and forest resources play a central role— culturally, spiritually and economically—in First Nations communities across Canada.

Their importance will continue to grow as more commercial forest land comes under First Nations control and management, as First Nations youth look to participate more fully in forest-based economic opportunities, and as the evolving forest industry increasingly seeks out First Nations co-venture partners and contractors.

This edition of Success Stories presents a snapshot of recent projects that the First Nations Forestry Program (FNFP) has supported to build First Nations’ capacity to participate in—and benefit from—sustainable forest management and forest-based economic opportunities. The stories are representative of the projects that have been
successfully completed over recent years. Projects have involved facilitating access to forest resources and business partnerships, transferring knowledge and tools for sustainable forest management, and providing workers with specialized technical training and work experience.

A PDF version of this publication can be found by accessing the Canadian Forest Service’s Bookstore at: http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/subsite/fnfp

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Programme forestier des Premières nations. Exemples de succès 2009

Les forêts et les ressources forestières jouent un rôle primordial — sur le plan culturel, spirituel et économique — dans les communautés des Premières nations de l’ensemble du Canada. Ce rôle ira croissant, car les Premières nations acquièrent de plus en plus de droits sur des terrains forestiers d’intérêt commercial ou participent à la gestion de ces terrains. En outre, les jeunes des Premières nations cherchent à profiter davantage des possibilités économiques offertes par les forêts et l’industrie forestière, en constante évolution, mise de plus en plus sur les partenariats et les coentreprises.

Cette édition d’Exemples de succès présente un instantané de projets récents que le Programme forestier des Premières nations (PFPN) a soutenus pour bâtir la capacité des Premières nations en matière de gestion durable des forêts et de participation — avec profit — aux possibilités économiques des forêts. Ces exemples sont représentatifs des projets qui ont été menés à bonne fin ces dernières années, qu’il s’agisse de l’accès aux ressources forestières et aux partenariats d’affaires, de transfert de connaissances et d’outils pour la gestion durable des forêts ou de communication aux travailleurs d’une formation technique spécialisée et d’une expérience de travail.

Une version PDF de cette publication est disponible par l’entremise de la librairie du Service canadien des forêts : http://scf.rncan.gc.ca/soussite/pfpn/accueil

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