| Summary: | Due to a shortage of funds for the Learning Communities Project, I presented alone. The PowerPoint slides used for the presentation are sent under separate cover. The session was attended by about 25 people, and there was discussion both within the session and afterward. I was especially pleased that two individuals from Matawa First Nations Management, Thunder Bay Ont., gave me their cards (Stephen Chase, and Murray Waboose), so that we might interact further on our results, and a program they are commencing in the fall. I felt the session went very well. A keynote speaker had touched on the issues of access and the roles of technologies. I was able to relate our findings to these. I was also able to explain how the LCP relates to Athabasca University’s central mandate, and future programming foci. Abstract The western Canadian province of Alberta has used the proceeds from exploitaiton of its extraordinary natural resources to provide a range of post-secondary training and education opportunities to residents. While these provisions appear comprehensive, this study examines how well they actually suit the express needs of the residents of remote, primarily Aboriginal, areas of the province. The literature shows that, while Aboriginals are underrepresented in Canada in university enrolments, they are no longer underrepresented in college or other institutions, suggesting that gains have been made in some aspects of Aboriginal educational and training participation. Further, when Aboriginals (especially males) complete advanced training, Statistics Canada reports they are highly successful in employment and income. Access is the privotal issue, however: leaving the local community to attend training programs elsewhere is often disruptive and unsuccessful. This study was conducted as part of Athabasca University’s Learning Communities Project, intended to provide information about the views of northern Alberta residents concerning their present post-secondary training and education opportunities. The study ...
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