Welcome to Ripple Effects
Online Aboriginal Awareness Training

Welcome

Please click on the video below to view the welcome video.

The video contains a prayer by Cree Elder Doreen Spence and a welcome message by your host Robert Laboucane.

 

Primary Objectives

The main purpose of this program is to create further understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. It serves as a tool for gaining awareness and understanding of a group of people who through historical events have remained different from mainstream society.

Through awareness and understanding of the history and culture of Aboriginal people, historical and traditional gaps can be bridged. In addition, the review of current circumstances will help you create the opportunity for dialogue and understanding. Communication is the key to building trusting and respectful relationships.

Objective 1: Inform
Aboriginal people have a unique culture, status, and needs. Canadians who inform themselves with Aboriginal Awareness will be in a better position to understand Aboriginal issues from an Aboriginal perspective and promote better relationships.
This information will clarify why the Aboriginal communities and people are where they are today.

Objective 2: Involve
Awareness and understanding of Aboriginal history, issues, visions for the future, and needs, will place you in a better position to understand Aboriginal motivations and decision-making processes. A position of understanding and awareness will allow you to build successful long term trusting relationships through the successful involvement and inclusion of Aboriginal people.

Objective 3: Integrate
Once Canadian society actively involves Aboriginal people it will be possible to integrate Aboriginal communities as productive, active, and supportive Canadians.

The assimilation of the Aboriginal people is the cornerstone of Canadian Aboriginal policy today. Instead of trying to absorb the Aboriginal people we need to learn, listen, and adapt so that we can assist them to take their rightful place in this country. Integration instead of assimilation allows all Canadian’s to benefit from the diversity of Aboriginal people.

Objective 4: Improve
The fourth Primary Objective may be the most important as it directly affects all Canadians: aim to improve Canada for all its citizens.
For the most part, Canadians base their current attitude towards Aboriginal people on ignorance and lack of information. Knowledge based education is one of the key factors if Canadians are to find a solution to the current challenges faced by Aboriginal people in Canada.

Aboriginal people do not trust governments to resolve conflicts. CEOs of corporations are quickly filling in as interveners and mediators between Aboriginal people and governments. Aboriginal people trust corporations that educate themselves, and their workforce, in order to understand and become knowledgeable of the Aboriginal people’s dilemma in Canada; this dilemma is nothing short of a national social tragedy.

Informing Canadians of the Aboriginal situation and circumstances, why they are where they are today, and their potential to improve Canada will lead to the eventual involvement and participation of Aboriginal people in the mainstream economy. Integration, not assimilation, will ultimately improve Canadian society as a whole.

 

Please proceed to the Course Home screen to continue.