Follow-Up Survey Findings: Impacts of the Changemakers Initiative Inspiring Approaches to First Nations, Métis and Inuit Learning since the

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Alban Gallagher
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1 Follow-Up Survey Findings: Impacts of the Changemakers Initiative Inspiring Approaches to First Nations, Métis and Inuit Learning since the Celebration Summit (April, 2012) December, 2012

2 Ashoka Canada launched the Changemakers Initiative Inspiring Approaches to First Nations, Métis and Inuit Learning in late 2011 to gather and showcase ideas and/or projects that support Aboriginal learners in Canada. This exercise also served to bring together various thirdsector stakeholders that work in this sphere in the hopes of developing new relationships that would contribute to this cause. A total of 266 submissions were received from across Canada and beyond promoting learning from either early childhood education, K-12, post-secondary education or career development. Submissions for Community Awards were evaluated by a panel of judges composed of First Nations, Métis and Inuit leaders in education. The finalists were then announced online and voted upon by the public. For the other awards, the award sponsors and/or the Ashoka Changemakers team selected the winning entries based on innovation, social impact and sustainability criteria. A total of over $90,000 in prizes was distributed to 33 Award Winners (a list of Award Winners is provided at the back). The project partners hosted a Summit in April 2012 to celebrate the Award Winners. This gathering was truly an inspiring event intended to recognize these wonderful submissions and to ensure that the momentum of this online initiative would carry on. The Counselling Foundation of Canada, on behalf of Ashoka Canada s Changemakers Initiative, has recently undertaken two complementary online surveys to determine if/how this initiative influenced the project participants (Entrants and Award Winners) and project partners (a list of Award Sponsors, Network Partners and Partners is provided at the back) in the work that they do to support Aboriginal learners in Canada. The respective follow-up surveys were completed by 41 project participants and 28 representatives from project partner organizations. This report provides a brief summary about some of what we learned from these related surveys. Changemakers Initiative Outcomes: Support provided by Award Sponsors A few questions were asked at the outset of both surveys to uncover whether project participants had reached out to the initiative s Award Sponsors for any type of support as a result of this online initiative. Close to half of the survey respondents (46%) indicated that they had done so including 11 who applied for financial support, six who asked to be introduced to another grantmaker, eight who sought capacity-building support, and two who requested to be introduced to a non-grantmaking third-sector stakeholder. A follow-up question asked respondents to tell us about the result of the support they requested. A significant majority noted 1

3 that the outcome of the support they sought was quite positive. For instance, one project participant explained that as a result (of the support we received), the program has doubled in size and is being considered by other school districts. while another mentioned we were able to secure a three-year grant from one of the sponsors present at the (Summit). The entire idea of the project was inspired by the Ashoka Summit and partners we met there. A true Summit success story!. Comments gathered from representatives from the respective project partners were equally positive. Many of them noted that they were very pleased to have made grants to several of the project participants and, as one noted specifically, (we are) very happy to be supporting such wonderful initiatives (in any way we can)!. Changemakers Initiative Outcomes: Development of working relationships Respondents were asked in the next section of the respective surveys whether they had developed any type of working relationship with other members of this initiative since the Summit. Project participants were specifically asked if they had developed collaboration or shared knowledge with any of the Network Partners and/or Partners. Over half of the respondents indicated that since the Summit they had participated in either knowledge sharing, resource sharing or they are currently collaborating on a project or planning to cooperate on an initiative with a Network Partner and/or Partner. Just about sixty-percent of the participant respondents also mentioned they had developed a working relationship with other Changemakers Initiative Entrants as a result of this online initiative. These respondents noted in concert that this process had been quite enriching and motivating. As one explained I connected with a number of Award Winners afterwards to keep in touch and follow projects/programs For those that I stay connected with we share a common bond from the Changemakers experience and we try to support each other as we carry on our passions!. The project partners were likewise asked if they had developed similar working relationships with any of the other Changemakers Initiative Award Sponsors, Project Partners or Partners. Slightly over fifty-percent of the respondents from this group indicated that they have teamed up with an Award Sponsor while exactly half have developed a working relationship with either a Project Partner or Partner. Many explained that these working relationships have 2

4 been quite beneficial to their organization as they have allowed them to explore future collaborations, draw upon the expertise of others and, in a few cases, set the stage for launching jointly-supported initiatives that promise to provide program delivery. Changemakers Initiative Outcomes: Knowledge sharing aftermaths A fundamental function of this Changemakers Initiative was to offer a platform to showcase pioneering ideas or projects that support Aboriginal learners in Canada. It was hoped that these promising practices could, aside from being recognized for their innovation, be adapted or adopted by others in order to spread their successful approaches as far as possible. The last section of the participant survey asked respondents if they had used any of the concepts or activities featured in the online entries. Half of this group indicated that they have relied on the promising practices showcased in the Changemakers Initiative to enhance the work that they do. One of these respondents explained glowingly I was very inspired by the numerous awardwinning entries and shared much of the information with the communities I work with I also learned many creative ways that programs can reach out to communities to promote educational success! Another answered enthusiastically Absolutely! Very rich and powerful part of the process. As a result of our exposure to (several) concepts we have improved our program and added these components thus strengthening the overall program. The project partners survey included a question specifically for grantmaking organizations asking them whether their grantmaking practices had been informed as a consequence of insight gained through this Changemakers Initiative. These learnings may have come from the outcomes of the Discovery Framework, working with other project partners on this initiative, reviewing the entries and/or attending the Summit. All but one of the respondents from grantmaking organizations who participated in this initiative reported that knowledge acquired from the project has informed their grantmaking. A follow-up question asking them to explain this impact provides some interesting insight. For instance, one respondent noted that this project had allowed his organization to learn about the scale of the issues and the challenges & complexities of rural and remote populations (as well as) the lack of homogeneity among the First Nations; the differences between on and off-reserve funding for First Nation (learners) and the challenge for Métis to deliver culturally distinct programming when they 3

5 lack treaty recognition A representative from another grantmaking organization explained that the Changemakers Initiative has allowed us to identify gaps than we can hopefully fill in supporting Indigenous learners. It has likewise informed us about the agencies doing work in this sphere that we did not know existed. Closing This summary really only provides top-level highlight of the findings gathered as a result of the two follow-up surveys we undertook to gauge impacts in the six months since the Summit took place. Nevertheless, the information gathered indicates that tangible impacts have occurred since Changemakers Initiative ended in April. The findings clearly demonstrate that, in fact, this initiative only served to set the stage for concrete outcomes promoting new relationships between funders and community organizations, developing and strengthening collaborations among third-sector stakeholders, and using knowledge surfaced during this initiative to enhance work being done to support Aboriginal learners that are being felt well after the Summit was held in the spring. It is important to mention that a new organization has, as a result of witnessing the impressive outcomes of the Changemakers Initiative at the Summit, taken the lead in ensuring that supporting Aboriginal learners continues to have a prominent place in the third sector. The Circle on Philanthropy and Aboriginal Peoples in Canada, an open network to promote giving, sharing, and philanthropy in Aboriginal communities across the country, has launched The Collaborative Circle on Aboriginal Education and Youth Leadership to sustain the spirit of the Changemakers Initiative. Consequently, we are confident that long-term impacts from the Changemakers Initiative Inspiring Approaches to First Nations, Métis and Inuit Learning will be evident for years to come. The Counselling Foundation of Canada, on behalf of Ashoka Canada s Changemakers Initiative, is grateful to the project participants and project partners who took the time to respond to the complementary surveys. The information you provided was invaluable in allowing us to identify some of the impacts of this initiative thus far. 4

6 Award Winners Early Entry Awards -Ateliers de formation du Wapikoni mobile -Aboriginal Student Links Honourable mentions: Urban Butterflies and Indigenous Women in Community Leadership (IWCL) program National and International Awards Community Awards (awarded by the online community) -Indigenous Women in Community Leadership (IWCL) program -Imagination Library - Free books for preschoolers -Elephant Thoughts First Nations and Inuit Education Donner Canadian Foundation Community Awards (Canada) -Ateliers de formation du Wapikoni mobile -Aboriginal ementoring BC Regional Awards within Canada Donner Canadian Foundation Award (from Alberta) -Making Dreams A Reality The First Nations Education Council and the Regroupement des centres d amitié autochtones du Québec (from Quebec) -Dialogue & accompagnement d'adolescents autochtones par l'art The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation Award (from Quebec) -Skins Workshops on Aboriginal Storytelling and Video Game Design The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation Award (from Manitoba or Saskatchewan) -A Tap on the Shoulder Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation Award (from the Maritimes) -Mi kmaq Music, Songs and Stories for Babies The North-South-Partnership for Children Award (from the Far North in Ontario) -Revolution: Girl-Style 5

7 RBC Awards (from the Far North in Canada) -Dechinta Bush University, Denendeh -Actua in the North -ArtsCan Circle Honourable mention: Elephant Thoughts First Nations and Inuit Education Vancouver Foundation Awards (from British Columbia) -Clleq melt: Groups for Aboriginal children and youth in Schools and Community -Urban Butterflies Awards for Specific Areas of Learning The Counselling Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Education & Research Institute for Counselling (CERIC) Awards -Balancing Strategies: Self-Directed Life and Career Exploration for Indigenous Students -Nunatsiavut Government Sponsored Bachelor of Social Work Program -TASK (Trade Awareness, Skills & Knowledge) The Girls Action Foundation Awards -Exchanges Unite Us - Intercultural Exchanges in NWT -Porteurs de rêves et boîte d outils pour un enseignement des arts visuels autochtones à l école secondaire -Revolution: Girl-Style The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation Awards (three categories) -Aboriginal ementoring BC -Increasing Aboriginal Economic Inclusion through the Use of E-Learning Technology in the Aboriginal Community -Just Move It Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation and Lawson Foundation Awards -Aboriginal ECERS -Ojibway Language Books for Children Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative Awards -Aboriginal High School Mentorship Program -Aboriginal Student Links -DreamCatcher Mentoring: E-Mentoring for Northern High School Students -First Nations Studies Expo -To Learn: Sharing, Wisdom, Strength and Unity 6

8 Award Sponsors Canadian Education & Research Institute for Counselling (CERIC) The Counselling Foundation of Canada Donner Canadian Foundation First Nations Education Council Girls Action Foundation The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation The Lawson Foundation MAMOW SHA-WAY-GI-KAY-WIN: North South Partnership for Children Fondation Margaret et Wallace McCain Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative (MAEI) RBC Foundation Regroupement des centres d amitié autochtones du Québec Vancouver Foundation Network Partners Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes) Canadian Teachers Federation (CTF) Community Foundations of Canada Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Dilys Leman Indspire Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) Métis National Council (MNC) Moving Red Canoe Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) Partners Ashoka Canada Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon Ashoka Changemakers First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada Ontario Trillium Foundation Small Change Fund 7

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