Media Releases >
Media Releases Archive
> SFU helps aboriginals develop HIPPY program
SFU helps aboriginals develop HIPPY program
Document Tools
September 18, 2002
The first national meeting in August to recruit coordinators of HIPPY Canada satellite programs attracted a number of First Nations people. The week-long event was held at Simon Fraser University’s Morris J. Wosk centre for dialogue and Britannia Community Services centre. About two thirds of the meeting’s more than 30 participants were from aboriginal communities in BC.
HIPPY Vancouver’s collaboration with native community centres, such as the Aboriginal Mother centre in east Vancouver, on creating outreach programs had given many natives a taste of HIPPY’s benefits. The desire for a uniquely aboriginal version of the program had drawn them to the national recruitment meeting.
First Nations people and educators at SFU’s Chief Dan George centre, an initiative dedicated to fostering advanced education in BC’s native communities, had already got a HIPPY Aboriginal off the ground. One hundred Vancouver area aboriginal families and more than 12 BC native communities are lined up to participate in HIPPY Aboriginal. "Less than 30 percent of aboriginal students complete high school in BC. We desperately need a community driven program that addresses this alarming fact by helping our pre-schoolers get a good start in the provincial school system," says Linden Pinay, the director of the Chief Dan George centre.
Administered by HIPPY Canada, the aboriginal version of HIPPY reflects the philosophical tenants of the international program. Three years ago, SFU’s community education program in continuing studies, the Britannia community services centre and the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada founded Canada’s first HIPPY program in Vancouver at Britannia.
"HIPPY Aboriginal is a natural evolution because the HIPPY concept acknowledges First Nation self-government and provides a vehicle to support First Nations’ control of their education," explains Pinay. "HIPPY’s concept of parents as their children’s primary teachers is also in keeping with an important value in North American aboriginal culture." The founders of HIPPY Aboriginal hope to have five projects up and running across BC by this fall.
—30—
CONTACT
Linden Pinay, 604.291.5238, linden_pinay@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035
HIPPY Vancouver’s collaboration with native community centres, such as the Aboriginal Mother centre in east Vancouver, on creating outreach programs had given many natives a taste of HIPPY’s benefits. The desire for a uniquely aboriginal version of the program had drawn them to the national recruitment meeting.
First Nations people and educators at SFU’s Chief Dan George centre, an initiative dedicated to fostering advanced education in BC’s native communities, had already got a HIPPY Aboriginal off the ground. One hundred Vancouver area aboriginal families and more than 12 BC native communities are lined up to participate in HIPPY Aboriginal. "Less than 30 percent of aboriginal students complete high school in BC. We desperately need a community driven program that addresses this alarming fact by helping our pre-schoolers get a good start in the provincial school system," says Linden Pinay, the director of the Chief Dan George centre.
Administered by HIPPY Canada, the aboriginal version of HIPPY reflects the philosophical tenants of the international program. Three years ago, SFU’s community education program in continuing studies, the Britannia community services centre and the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada founded Canada’s first HIPPY program in Vancouver at Britannia.
"HIPPY Aboriginal is a natural evolution because the HIPPY concept acknowledges First Nation self-government and provides a vehicle to support First Nations’ control of their education," explains Pinay. "HIPPY’s concept of parents as their children’s primary teachers is also in keeping with an important value in North American aboriginal culture." The founders of HIPPY Aboriginal hope to have five projects up and running across BC by this fall.
—30—
CONTACT
Linden Pinay, 604.291.5238, linden_pinay@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035