Sault Ste. Marie Learning Circle
May 14th, 2009 Notes
Sault Community Career Centre
11 am to 1 pm
Ten of us gathered today from the area encompassing bawating/SSM and Soo Tribe in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Continuing from last month’s Circle, the group started with a go around to make new introductions. Natalie Waboose, a new NORIDK research assistant will be facilitating the group when Christine departs to continue her studies in urban Indigenous women’s economic contributions at Trent University. Some time was spent sharing information about community events that were occurring and making connections in the Aboriginal social housing and housing development field. The group continued with last month’s identified goal of solidifying a potential project. Gayle Broad will be submitting a proposal to the National Network requesting funding to conduct an environmental scan that will allow the group to begin to answer the main question ‘Who are urban Aboriginal people’ with ancillary questions including ‘what are the local resources?’ and ‘who else is doing what in the area?’. The rationale for the project is that identifying possibilities for economic development practice cannot be done until we know who urban Aboriginal people are. Derek Rice is a graduate student who is studying the field of economics and has the knowledge and interest in taking a lead in conducting the scan, should this Learning Circle’s proposal be approved. Several people had questions about the particular methodology, purposes and definitions of an environmental scan. It was determined that this would be a key discussion that could be had at next month’s Circle. In addition, other members have identified other pieces of literature that might inform our thinking in the subject area and in terms of local knowledge. This literature will be circulated amongst the group for people’s perusal as they determine what best fits their needs. The next circle will occur June 18th at Algoma University. Keeping in the spirit of the philosophy that informs the Learning Circle methodology, participants were invited to bring in their own rock or something of significance to be placed in the centre.