AHSUNC Program Resources

In this section of the website you will find specific information about the National Aboriginal Head Start Council, the AHSUNC Community Exchange Program, International Exchanges, and about training. This is public information, but it is posted here primarily for Aboriginal Head Start caregivers.

• About the National Aboriginal Head Start Council
• About Community Exchanges
• About International Exchanges
• About Training

About the National Aboriginal Head Start Council

• Purpose of the NAHSC
• Responsibilities of the NAHSC
• Membership on the NAHSC
• Activities of the NAHSC

Purpose of the NAHSC

The purpose of the National Aboriginal Head Start Council NAHSC is to provide a forum for partnership between AHS Regional Community Representatives and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). An Elder from the community in which NAHSC meetings are held attends each meeting. The NAHSC protects the integrity of the program and works towards success and program excellence by:

• providing a voice for Aboriginal children, parents, families and communities;
• committing to the "statement of beliefs and values about children";
• adhering to the AHSUNC Principles and Guidelines;
• contributing to the sharing of knowledge throughout all levels of the program.

Responsibilities of the NAHSC

• To develop, and oversee the implementation of national policies and projects for the AHSUNC program in the areas of training, national evaluation, research, and others as appropriate.
• To lead national strategic planning for the program.
• To promote and advocate for program enhancements and expansion to meet the needs of urban and northern Aboriginal communities across the country.
• To act as a guardian to promote the spirit, and honour the integrity of the program.
• To share information, ideas and knowledge that promote program excellence.
• To provide analysis on program effectiveness.
• For more detailed information about the roles and responsibilities of NAHSC community representatives and PHAC representatives, please read the NAHSC Terms of Reference.

Membership on the NAHSC

AHSUNC Community Representatives elected to the NAHSC are affiliated with an AHSUNC site, and are of Aboriginal ancestry. The Aboriginal Community Representatives are selected by provincial/territorial AHSUNC bodies. The NAHSC consists of AHS community representatives from provinces and territories that have AHS projects, and PHAC representatives as follows:

• 1 British Columbia representative
• 1 Yukon representative
• 1 Alberta representative
• 1 Northwest Territories representative
• 1 Nunavut representative
• 1 Saskatchewan representative
• 1 Manitoba representative
• 1 Ontario representative
• 2 Quebec representatives
• 1 Newfoundland and Labrador representative
• 1 Nova Scotia representative
• 1 New Brunswick representative
• 1 member from the Aboriginal Head Start section of the Division of Childhood and Adolescence, Public Health Agency of Canada (National Office)
• 1 member representing Public Health Agency of Canada - AHS Regional Program Consultants
• 1 member representing Public Health Agency of Canada - PPHB Regional Directors
• Metis, First Nations or Inuit Elder

Activities of the NAHSC

The NAHSC has convened a variety of subcommittees that include outside expertise to address a variety of topics such as evaluation and training. Subcommittees work together to investigate, plan, and develop recommendations which are presented to the full council. The following subcommittees are actively involved in addressing national issues as needed:

• Strategic Planning Subcommittee
• Training Subcommittee
• Evaluation Subcommittee
• Linkages/Exchanges Subcommittee
• National Training Workshop Subcommittee
• Dispute Resolution Subcommittee

About Community Exchanges

• About the Community Exchange Program
• Learning Objectives
• Participants Comments About the Community Exchange Program

Community Exchange Program

AHSUNC successfully piloted community exchanges based on a peer to peer learning concept in 1998/1999. The objectives for the Community Exchange Program provide participants with excellent opportunities for a valuable personal and professional learning experience.

The AHSUNC Program has completed two years of successful community exchanges within Canada. We continue to incorporate lessons learned from each past exchange, and the program improves each year as a result. Specific criteria for participation, clear learning objectives, and detailed roles and responsibilities for the exchange ensure that participants have a constructive experience.

The Community Exchange Program is for PHAC-funded, Aboriginal Head Start sites in urban and northern communities. If you are interested in learning more about the AHS Community Exchange Program, contact the AHSUNC National Office.

Learning Objectives

• Increase and extend professional knowledge of the development, implementation, and management of early intervention strategies for Aboriginal children and their families through the sharing of knowledge, resources and best practices;
• Develop a greater awareness and a deeper appreciation of the similarities and differences which exist among Aboriginal groups in different regions of the country, as well the adoption of new ideas, ideologies and concerns;
• Take pride in and share own communities cultural heritage, history and goals in the area of early childhood development;
• Pass on the knowledge accumulated from successful implementation of the AHS program in terms of implementing the six program components, innovative solutions to ongoing participant and community challenges, evaluation results, and future plans;
• Expand the confidence, initiative and leadership skills necessary to work collaboratively to uphold the AHSUNC guiding principles within own community;
• Develop a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship with an AHS Program in another region.

What Do Participants Say About the Community Exchange Program?

"We have a better understanding of how to ask our Elders to participate in our program"

"The exchange was quite the experience. We gained so much knowledge about the Inuit culture and how it is implemented into the program and curriculum"

"To our surprise, the whole community came out to honour us... we never expected that kind of reception"

"Our major learning was how to work more with the parents in our program"

"We will teach more Cree in our program as a result of the things we learned during the exchange"

About International Exchanges

• About the International Exchange Program
• Learning Objectives

International Exchange Program

AHSUNC International Exchanges are in the developmental phase. An exchange could involve a delegation of AHS community representatives and PHAC personnel who are directly involved in the delivery of the AHSUNC Program, and a delegation of early childhood education professionals involved in the delivery of AHS-like programs in Chile. Such an exchange would enable both sides to learn about models and innovations in culturally sensitive, community-based education.

Work has been underway for approximately one year. Extensive investigation into appropriate Latin American countries and potential partners has been conducted by AHS personnel with the help of consultants. Chile has been designated as the country of choice based on a variety of important criteria (i.e., Indigenous populations, safety of travel, similarity of early intervention programs). A detailed assessment of feasibility was completed along with consultations with government officials, school officials and community leaders in Chile. There has been a particular effort to ensure that the Indigenous Chilean communities consent to and are involved in the exchange.

In November of 2000 during the World Congress of the World Organization for Early Childhood Education, a preliminary visit with potential exchange partners in Chile was conducted. During July and August of 2001, a three-person delegation with AHS community representation representing AHS visited Aboriginal early intervention programs in Chile. The goal was to investigate the possibility of conducting a full International Exchange. A delegation consisting of Richard Budgell (National Manager, AHS), Audrey Waite (Coordinator, Comox Valley Aboriginal Head Start Program) and Judith Bernhard (consultant) met with government personnel responsible for Aboriginal preschool programs as well as Indigenous community leaders and child care centres in August 2001. The response from Chilean partners was very positive.

Planning for the next phase of the International Exchange Program is underway. Stay tuned for more information.

Learning Objectives

• Develop a greater awareness and a deeper appreciation of the similarities and differences which exist among Indigenous populations in different countries, as well the adoption of new ideas, ideologies and concerns across borders;
• Acquire an understanding of how another country with Indigenous populations conceptualizes early childhood education/intervention;
• Come face to face with the people, languages, cultures and history of Indigenous communities in Latin America who occupy similar roles in the field of early childhood intervention;
• Increase and extend their professional knowledge of the development, implementation, and management of early intervention strategies for Indigenous children and their families through the sharing of knowledge, resources and best practices;
• Take pride in and share their own countries and communities cultural heritage, history and goals in the area of early childhood development;
• Pass on the knowledge accumulated from five years of successful implementation of the AHS program in terms of implementing the six program components, innovative solutions to ongoing participant and community challenges, evaluation results, and future plans;
• Gain insight into the challenges and efforts of Indigenous communities in Latin America in the area of early childhood development, preserving Indigenous culture and language, engaging parents, elders and the community in programming, self government and socioeconomic stability;
• Attain a better understanding of their roles as early childhood educators and program administrators for Aboriginal people, and how it fits into the larger political, social, and cultural context of their work;
• Expand the confidence, initiative and leadership skills necessary to work collaboratively to uphold the AHS guiding principles within their own community;
• Develop a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship with an early childhood development program in another country.

About Training

• About Training
• National Aboriginal Head Start Training Workshop

About Training

There are national and regional training events. National training is coordinated by the AHSUNC National Office and regional training is coordinated by PHAC Regional Offices. The AHSUNC Program has determined that there is a critical need for a coordinated and strategic plan that will guide the direction of future training in the AHSUNC Program. This involves input from AHS community representatives, the National Aboriginal Head Start Council (NAHSC), PHAC Regional Offices and the National Office. An AHSUNC training plan will provide an effective, well-coordinated and practical plan or framework for future training in AHSUNC.

Training needs are identified through feedback from AHSUNC staff, PHAC Program Consultants, and local, regional and national evaluation data. The Training Subcommittee of the National Aboriginal Head Start Council (NAHSC) reviews training approaches and programs that have been identified as potentially useful in AHSUNC, and decisions regarding the types of training offered nationally are based on what fits best with AHSUNC.

Often, a specific region or community identifies a training need that is particular to their site, community or region. That type of training is delivered on a local or regional basis. Most PHAC Regional Offices provide regular training and support to AHS sites on a local or regional basis. Many regions also host an annual Regional Training Workshop.

Currently, the training described on this website consists mainly of training that is coordinated by the  AHSUNC National Office and is offered to all  AHSUNC sites across Canada. Contact a  AHSUNC Program Consultant in your respective region to find out more about regional training opportunities.

National Aboriginal Head Start Training Workshop

The National AHS Training Workshop is an annual three-day event coordinated by the AHSUNC National Office in Ottawa with assistance from the region in which the workshop is held. The workshop is held in a different city each year. It is a special event in the AHSUNC community and brings together approximately 400 AHSUNC delegates and guests from the north, south, east and west. A variety of workshop sessions are provided in English, French and Inuktitut. Each year, several seats are made available to First Nations Head Start On Reserve Program delegates, and as of 2001, First Nations and Inuit Child Care Program delegates.

Elders representing a variety of Aboriginal cultures participate in each year's workshop and play a vital role in guiding workshop activities, providing reflections and support. During the event, an evening Banquet, Awards and Cultural Presentation is well attended in which Aboriginal culture and the success of AHSUNC is celebrated. A trade show and AHSUNC site displays are also a regular part of workshop proceedings.

Each year, the workshop organizers choose a workshop "theme" and sessions that reflect high-priority training needs in AHSUNC. Some workshop topics are repeated each year because many topics are ever-changing and require ongoing training, and because we encourage sites not to send the same person to the workshop year after year. Some of the recurring workshop topics include evaluation, curriculum development, special needs, parental involvement and cultural programming.

• 2001 "Creating the Best Learning Environments" ... Edmonton, Alberta
  For the sixth national conference, the focus was on teachers and educators. Sessions were offered on a variety of topics such as: the Work Sampling System; FAS/FAE and special needs training; incorporating local culture and language into curriculums; home visiting; and a number of other early childhood development and professional development workshops directed at educators. Special guest speakers included: Don Burnstick performing his one-man play "I am Alcohol"; the Honourable Ms. Pearl Calahasen, Minster of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development in Alberta who welcomed delegates and provided opening remarks; and Cherry Kingsley, keynote speaker. The Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew joined guests at the evening banquet to present the first-ever AHSUNC Volunteer of the Year Awards to three outstanding volunteers, and to launch the new publication Johnny National, Super Hero by Tomson Highway.
• 2000 "Parental Involvement, The Journey to Success" ... Ottawa, Ontario
  In 2000, the focus was on parental involvement. One parent from each site across the country was sponsored by Health Canada to attend. Sessions were offered on a variety of topics such as: involving fathers; defining roles in AHSUNC; increasing parental participation; national AHSUNC principles and guidelines; leadership and motivation; High/Scope philosophy; program evaluation; Parent Advisory Committees; and more. Special guest speakers included: Ian Potter, Assitant Deputy Minster of the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada who welcomed delegates and provided opening remarks; and John Kim Bell, founder of the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards. Susan Aglukark was the surprise keynote speaker at the evening banquet, and she delighted guests by performing "Amazing Grace" in Inuktitut.
• 1999 "Children of Promise - Tomorrows Leaders" ... Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
  This workshop included sessions on: traditional teaching tools; asset building for children; partnering with parents; creating safety for children; learning styles; language development; evaluation; and more.
• 1998 "AHS - Strengthening Children and Families" ... Ottawa, Ontario
  The 1998 workshop provided a wide range of learning opportunities for AHSUNC staff, parents, board members and guests. Sessions were offered on topics such as;FAS/FAE; conflict resolution; problem solving; team work; culture in the classroom; early childhood development; exploring culture with preschoolers; the High/Scope approach; and more.
• 1997 "Building the Spirit of the Child" ... Winnipeg, Manitoba
  The 1997 workshop achieved a number of key objectives that assist AHSUNC sites in continuing to provide quality service to program participants. Sessions focussed on: curriculum development; training staff; preschool approaches; building resiliency in children; and more.
• 1996 "Our Way" ... Edmonton, Alberta
  The goal of the first training workshop was to provide project and community representatives with information and resources that would be of use in the design and development of their projects. Sessions focussed on: Aboriginal parenting; evaluation; sponsor responsibility; nurturing environments; culture-based programming; reinforcing traditional values; blending traditional beliefs; strategic planning; and more.