Abstract
This chapter tells the creation story of an Indigenous community-based and led socio-educational project known as the Aboriginal Back to School Picnic (BTSP). Three Indigenous [1] authors identify and discuss their roles and responsibilities in its development (2002–2019). We trace its 2002 origins in Victoria, British Columbia (BC) to ten BC communities and from an initial budget of $4,500 to a total budget over $2.8 million. Over 17 years, 23,697 Indigenous students in pre-kindergarten to postsecondary received school supplies and backpacks from the project. These supplies and BTSP activities indirectly benefit 204,742 nuclear and extended family members living in the same home as the children and youth. Provincially, BTSP volunteers number 1,251 (2011–2019) and contribute a total of 8,215 hours of volunteer time. The primary goal of the BTSP project is to transform the sorrowful narrative of Indigenous children and families as victims forced to attend Canada’s notorious Indian Residential School (IRS) projects into a new and compelling Indigenous educational story. This story highlights positive Indigenous community-based socio-educational leadership and Indigenous community-development practices based on critical Indigenous principles. Through individual and collective story-work, each author identifies one or two of the five principles inherent in the BTSP project. Finally, the chapter provides examples of wise Indigenous community-development practices that flow from the BTSP principles and concludes with steps toward its future development.
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Appendix A
Appendix A
List of Funders by Name
Province of British Columbia | Monk’s Office Supply |
RBC Royal Bank Royal Eagles | McLean Foundation |
Scotiabank | Vancity |
Government House | PSECF: Public Sector Employee’s Community fund |
Capital Regional District | Monk’s Discount |
Rina M Biden Foundation | Out of the Blue Designs |
Prince George Native Friendship Centre | University of Victoria |
Makola Housing Group | Turtle Island Events |
Smart Saver |
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Johnson, S., Rice, R., Chuckry, J. (2020). Wise Indigenous Community Development Principles and Practices. In: Todd, S., Drolet, J.L. (eds) Community Practice and Social Development in Social Work. Social Work. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6969-8_4
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