Workshop on 12 December in Canberra


'Indigenous Canadian Learning Frameworks - What can Australia learn?'


Download Invitation


Presenters' biographies


Jarrett Laughlin works as a Senior Research Analyst at the Canadian Council on Learning - a national, independent and non-profit organisation that promotes and supports lifelong learning.  Jarrett is responsible for identifying innovative and holistic approaches to researching and reporting on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis learning, as well as managing the implementation and dissemination of a national Composite Learning Index that provides an annual measure of performance in lifelong learning for communities across Canada.


Jarrett comes from a family of educators and has been formally working in the field for over 14 years.  His work has assumed responsibilities for policy and programs development, partnership engagement and research. More recently he has worked for the Ontario Ministry of Education and for the Assembly of First Nationals Education Secretariat.


Rita Bouvier is currently employed as a Coordinator for the Canadian Council on Learning - Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre at the University of Saskatchewan.  Rita retired from the administrative staff of the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation in June 2006, having served public education for 33 years in varying capacities (teaching, curriculum development, administrative leadership, policy development).  Her work created many opportunities to travel nationally and worldwide (New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and other parts of the US, St Lucia, Geneva and India) to learn, to serve teachers and in some cases represent Educational International with international colleagues on educational issues facing Indigenous peoples. Rita holds B.Ed and M.Ed degrees in education from the University of Saskatchewan.


Rita has also served as a volunteer and/or consultant with various organisations including Saskatchewan's Northern Governance Task Force, Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research, Royal University Hospital Foundation, the Batoche Theatre Company Inc, the Independent Oversight Committee on Metis Elections Saskatchewan, Iskwewuk E-wichiwitochik - Women Working Together (formerly Missing Aboriginal Woman) to name a few.