Indigenous Transitions Study

NOIIE Indigenous Transitions Study

This study explores how collaborative inquiry can help educators to improve transitions for Indigenous youth—from grade to grade, school to school, and beyond school. It draws on insights from inquiry teams across British Columbia and from the coaches who were assigned to support their inquiries.

We are currently in the 3rd cohort (September 2021 – August 2024), which is being co-coordinated by Jana Fox and Lori Burger.

See below for more information on current and past NOIIE Transitions Studies, including a list of cohort 3 schools.

Cohort 3 Transitions Page

Check out this page for important Transitions information, upcoming events and resources.

COHORT 3 PAGE

Indigenous Transitions Project Co-coordinators

Jana Fox

For many years, Jana has had the privilege to learn and teach with talented educators in the Bulkley Valley School District, located on the unceded Witsuwit’en territory. She is a district teacher for SD54 Indigenous Education and a vice-principal at Silverthorne Elementary. Working alongside brilliant NOIIE leaders, Jana supports school and district teams throughout British Columbia as they engage in the Spiral of Inquiry seeking ways to improve outcomes for Indigenous learners in their settings.

Learning is a deeply-rooted passion for Jana, reinforced by the inspirational and creative educators she’s encountered along her learning journey, and by the wisdom of Indigenous knowledge holders and her Blackfoot ancestors. She is committed to the work that leads to quality and equitable environments that nurture the growth and well-being of all learners. Jana is always learning and strives to become a story weaver, gathering and sharing stories, and taking actions that contribute to positive transformations in the education system and the Indigenous community.

Lori Burger

Lori Burger is from the Nisga’a Nation, from the community of Gitlaxt’aamiks in the Nass valley. She is Giskaast (Killerwhale), from the house of Wisin xbiltkw, and Cree from Treaty 6 territory in Saskatchewan on her mother’s side, as well as settler heritages on her father’s side. Lori is committed to uplifting Indigenous voices and passionate about Indigenous representation both professionally and personally. She cares deeply about Indigenous representation and reconciliation learning, and is actively involved in evaluating Indigenous literatures and resources for use in the K-12 public school system. She has worked with the Association of Book Publishers of BC Indigenous Books for Schools and the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) on authenticating First Peoples resources. 

Lori has been involved in Indigenous education for over twenty years in roles spanning from Support Worker to Teacher, to Vice Principal and District Administration. Lori is currently the District Vice Principal of Indigenous Education, Equity and Excellence in School District 52 in Prince Rupert. Her personal and professional focus has been, and continues to be, equity and Indigenous Education for all.

Current Indigenous Transitions Study – Cohort 3

  • Britannia Secondary (SD 39)
  • Burnaby North Secondary (SD 41)
  • Cayoosh Elementary, George M. Murray Elementary, Lillooet Secondary (SD 74)
  • Charles Hays Secondary (SD 52)
  • Ecole Ballenas Secondary (SD 69)
  • Esquimalt Secondary (SD 61)
  • Harwin Elementary (SD 57)
  • John Barsby Community School (SD 68)
  • Kwalikum Secondary (SD 69)
  • Ladysmith Secondary (SD 68)
  • Moscrop Secondary (SD 41) 
  • Nanaimo District Secondary (SD 68)
  • Pemberton Secondary (SD 48)
  • Prince George Secondary (SD 57)
  • Prince Rupert Middle (SD 52)
  • Mount Boucherie Secondary, Rutland Senior Secondary (SD 23)
  • Nechako Lakes District Team (SD 91) 
  • Shuswap Middle (SD 83)
  • Smithers Secondary (SD 54)
  • WL Seaton Secondary (SD 22)
  • χpey̓ Elementary School (SD 39) 

Cohort 3 Transitions Schools (Credit: Google Maps)

Cohort 3 Updates

2022 Indigenous Transitions Stories

Nanaimo District Secondary School (SD 68) is part of the 2022-2024 NOIIE Indigenous Transitions Team. In this video, educators from NDSS emphasize the importance of relationships and a sense of belonging inside and outside the school building. Check out the video to learn how NDSS is building and strengthening their relationships.

Charles Hays Secondary School (SD 52) is part of the 2022-2024 NOIIE Indigenous Transitions Team. In this video, Reagan from CHSS shares how utilizing and relying on a team-approach has been a game-changer in supporting the students, and the staff, at their school. Check out the video to learn more about how their team-approach works and who’s involved.

Past Indigenous Transitions Cohorts

2020 Indigenous Transitions Accomplishments

2019 Indigenous Transitions Accomplishments

Indigenous Transitions Research

2016-2018 Improving Transitions for Indigenous Learners Through Collaborative Inquiry: AESN Transitions Research

Read the full report here (84+ pages)
Download the poster here
Download the report handout here
NOIIE Transitions Video

We would like to thank the Vancouver Foundation for their generous financial support towards NOIIE. The Vancouver Foundation is dedicated to creating healthy, vibrant and livable communities across BC. Since 1943, their donors have created 1,800 endowment funds and together they have distributed more than $1 billion to charities. From arts and culture to the environment, health and social development, education, medical research and more, they exist to make meaningful and lasting improvements to communities in BC. With the financial support of the Vancouver Foundation, NOIIE has been able to take on more Transitions teams and continue to support BC educators in improving transitions for Indigenous students.

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