The Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study had the great honour of hosting Chief Shawn Atleo on May 25, 2015. The day began by sharing results and highlighting our ongoing research partnership and teacher professional development project with Seven Generations Education Centre and the Rainy River District School Board in schools serving First Nation children and their families. We were thrilled that Brent Tookenay (Director, Seven Generations) and Donna Chief (RRDSB) flew in from Fort Frances for the day, and that Jennifer Brennan (Senior Advisor, Indigenous governments and Organizations) could join us as well. When Chief Atleo heard about how the collaborative math project empowered communities, children and families as well as educators and school districts, his response was: “This is reconciliation.”
Dr. Atleo also made a point of visiting several classrooms at the Lab School. It was such a pleasure to observe the way in which he built such a warm and immediate rapport with the children. He was so fully and deeply present as he interacted with the children. Chief Atleo’s true joy at being with children in the classroom was so evident and shone through each of the classroom visits he made.
Shawn Atleo is former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations and Hereditary Chief of the Ahousaht First Nation holds the appointment of Distinguished William A. MacDonald, Q.C. Fellow in Indigenous Education and adjunct professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto.
– Dr. Bev and The Robertson Team
