First Nations Math Education

• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: First Nations
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.398.1970; http://www.birs.ca/workshops/2009/09w5078/report09w5078.pdf

We are a group of Elders, mathematicians, math educators and teachers who have come together to find ways to improve mathematics education among aboriginals while at the same time acknowledging the importance of traditional culture. In June 2006 mathematicians and educators interested in working with First Nations communities came together to find ways to promote mathematical opportunities for aboriginal students. Aboriginal students ’ access to math and science education was the focus of this group discussion, as well as the challenges aboriginals face with the educational system. The goal was to look for possible ways of addressing key issues of concern. The workshop was based on the assumption that First Nations/Aboriginal student participation and success in school math programs is limited. This assumption was readily confirmed by data presented. Presently only 2 % of BC’s Aboriginal population completes Principles of Mathematics (POM) 12 compared to a completion rate of 25 % for the whole BC population. This discrepancy in completion rate is one of the issues this group