This paper provides an historical and contemporary interpretation of the developmental influences that have led to the Ontario Ministry of Education’s recent focus on Aboriginal educational policy in Ontario, Canada. It offers an interpretive and critical perspective on the rhetorical constructions, assumptions, and value-orientations implicit in two seminal documents. This discussion will assist Aboriginal Advisory Groups and communities, as well as policy-makers and practitioners, to think clearly about implementation strategies in the broader context of Aboriginal socio-educational development.

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This paper reports on a Talking Circle of six beginning Aboriginal teachers who discussed their roles as teachers. Participants criticized teacher education programs for not preparing them to teach in ways that are respectful of Aboriginal languages and culture. They discussed the importance of coming to know themselves and their culture. The paper concludes with suggestions for decolonizing teacher preparation so that Aboriginal teachers are enabled as protectors of Aboriginal culture and brokers with Euro-Canadian culture. Cet article fait le compte-rendu des révélations faites par six nouveaux enseignants d’origine autochtone au cours d’un cercle de discussion sur leur rôle d’enseignant. Les participants ont reproché aux programmes de formation des maîtres de ne pas les préparer à enseigner de manière respectueuse du langage et de la culture autochtones. Par ailleurs, ils ont souligné l’importance d’apprendre à se connaître et à explorer leur culture. En conclusion, les auteurs suggèrent des approches pour décoloniser la préparation des enseignants d’origine autochtone afin de leur permettre d’agir comme protecteurs de la culture autochtone et agents d’échange culturel avec la culture euro-canadienne

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The COVID-19 pandemic crisis resulted in more than 100 countries legislating school closures in March 2020. In response, provincial ministries and their respective publicly funded school boards have implemented online learning platforms to avoid disruptions to student learning. For students already ostracized in public education, on-line learning may serve to further embed them in the proverbial margins. This editorial speaks to the urgency for educators at all levels to prepare for the potentially devastating outcomes on Indigenous student learning and progress in post-pandemic public schools and classrooms. The preparation for these realities has to be both immediate and retrospective given the complexities of these unique circumstances that have created interwoven layers of marginalization for Indigenous students.