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Halifax Pre-Learning Circle

May 2nd, 2011

Introduction

A “pre- Learning Circle” was held on May 2nd, 2011 from 1 to 4 pm at the offices of the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs in Halifax. The meeting was a small planning meeting to determine the viability of hosting further learning circles in the Halifax region.

Participants

The meeting was attended by:

• Charles Horn, Facilitator, Urban Aboriginal Economic Development Network.

• Dr. Fred Wien: School of Social Work, Dalhousie University

• John Paul: Executive Director, Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat

• Dr. Trudy Sable, Director of Aboriginal and Northern Research, St. Mary’s University

• Tuma Young, Doctoral Student, Dalhousie School of Law, doing research on economic development with the APC.

Discussion

Participants at the meeting discussed the potential for doing something like a Learning Circle process in Halifax. This has been discussed before; in 2009 Chris Corrigan had met with the Halifax participants to discuss the Learning Circle process. That process was put on hold while the Atlantic Policy Congress waited for the results of the Urban Aboriginal Peoples Study.

Participants discussed at some length the options available to them and there was some interest in the Learning Circle method. However, at the end of the meeting it seemed clear that, given the limitations of existing resources that the process would be productive only if it was attached to another source of funding.

They talked quite a bit about the Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS): Halifax is applying to be designated as a UAS funded city, which it is not at this point. They tentatively agreed that it would make sense that if Halifax is invited to submit a UAS application, they would insert a piece about having Learning Circles in Halifax as part of the UAS proposal. Charles has agreed to send a separate email to this effect to the other participants shortly, confirming this outcome.

As well, participants agreed that if other activities or projects emerged that could make use of the Learning Circle process, or the other work of the Urban Aboriginal Economic Development Network, people would be in touch with each other to explore this possibility.