BCACCS are engaged in a research project to document “a diversity of voices in a common effort to enquire into, share about, celebrate and represent what is important in Aboriginal early childhood care and education (AECCE).” In developing this generative and culturally responsive approach to collaborative research, they have been engaging AECCE workers and administrators, parents, Elders, community leaders, scholars and policy-makers in participatory video interviews.

The plan is to use the collected material for curriculum, pedagogy and cultural safety in ECE learning settings, professional development, public policy development, and to inform and direct the BCACCS research agenda.

BCACCS is looking for participants to suggest themes, issues, questions and stories for consideration. Participants will be asked “what they feel needs to be said about AECCE, about the care and raising of First Nations children (and its many contexts, challenges and unique strengths) as well as their own particular commitments to and experience in it.”

The consultation format will be one or more video-recorded interviews. These conversations, typically of around 30 minutes, will consider the importance of the land and the significance of traditional spirituality, as well as political and historical issues and traditional knowledge that may bear on the work, and may include elements the BCACCS research agenda identifies as pressing areas for further research, including:

·      Language maintenance and revitalization

·      Quality from indigenous perspectives

·      Programs and services created for Indigenous children

·      Training and education as a way to promote capacity in communities

·      Unpacking deficit views about Indigenous early childhood

No footage will be used without prior review and consent by participants and participants will be available for the participants’ own future use.

For more information, please call or email Graham Giles, Researcher/Policy Analyst, BCACCS (604 913 9128 ex. 231 graham@acc-society.bc.ca) and/or Karen Isaac, Executive Director, BCACCS (604 913 9128, Karen@adcc-society.bc.ca)