A Home at School: Building Stronger Indigenous People through Cultural Resurgence in an Urban Ontario Public School Context.

In this thesis, I work through the educational narratives of young Aboriginal women and men as I explore the relationship between cultural programming and student engagement. My analysis is structured through a collaborative Indigenous research project. My overarching task is to explore how a cultural support program, the Native Youth Advancement with Education Hamilton (NYA WEH) Program, offered at Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School, located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, attempts to re-imagine Aboriginal education in ways that directly challenge the residential school legacy. In particular, I work to illuminate how particular forms of Aboriginal education are connected to the graduation rates of Aboriginal youth. I argue that the ways in which the NYA WEH Program navigates Native Studies curriculum, relationships, and notions of culture and tradition are significant to the engagement of Aboriginal youth. This research develops theoretical connections between the contemporary experience of Aboriginal social inequality and educational initiatives which attempt to reverse that legacy. By placing the NYA WEH Program narratives side-by-side with literature supporting Aboriginal education for Self-determination, I work to learn how to best support and encourage Aboriginal student engagement in secondary schools across Ontario.

A Home Literacy Handbook for Parents With Preschool Children

The purpose of this project was to provide parents with an awareness of the role that they play in their preschool children's literacy and reading development and to create a practical handbook that parents can use to teach early literacy and reading skills to their preschool children in their home environment. The handbook was created in response to the literature that confirmed that the children benefit from developing emergent literacy skills before they enter school in kindergarten or grade 1. In addition to the information gathered from the academic literature, needs assessments were conducted in order to hear perspectives from multiple stakeholders involved in the context of this project. The needs assessment questionnaires were conducted with 4 Ontario certified grade 1 and 2 teachers, and 4 parents with preschool children or children in kindergarten or grade 1. Data collected from these participants highlighted the needs of parents and were used to create a comprehensive handbook that will hopefully be accessible and useful to a wide parent audience. The results of the research project indicated that parents would, in fact, benefit from having access to a resource such as this handbook to assist in teaching the 4 components of emergent literacy to their preschool children––oral language, alphabet knowledge, phonological awareness, and print awareness––to their preschool children.

Joanna E. Wood short stories, 1898-1900

Joanna Ellen Wood (1867-1927) was an acclaimed Canadian author who wrote several novels and short stories. Wood was born in Scotland, but emigrated to Canada with her family in 1869. In 1874 her father purchased a farm overlooking the Niagara River at Queenston. It is believed she was supported by her brother William, who encouraged her writing. She was based in New York City from 1887-1901, using William’s business address there to receive correspondence while she traveled or spent time in Queenston. Around 1906, Wood moved with her mother to Niagara-on-the-Lake, where she joined the Niagara Historical Society. By 1914, she was living in Buffalo, but later spent time at her sisters’ homes. It was at her sister’s home in Detroit where she suffered a stroke and died in 1927. Wood’s literary career was short-lived. She published her first novel, The Untempered Wind , in 1894, and a second novel, Judith Moore …, in 1898. Both novels received critical acclaim, and a third novel, Farden Ha', followed in 1902. Unfortunately the majority of Wood’s numerous and award-winning writings cannot be found. Her career peaked in 1901, when she was the highest paid Canadian fiction writer. For unknown reasons, her career abruptly ceased in 1902, with no further publications or mention made of her in the Canadian Magazine.

Dorothy Rungeling fonds, 1887-2013, n.d.

Dorothy Rungeling was born in 1911 and raised in Fenwick, Ontario, by her adopted mother, Ethelwyn Wetherald. After graduating high school, she attended Fort Erie business College. She worked briefly in Toronto and then Hamilton, but eventually took a job with Brown Brothers’ Nursery in Pelham to be closer to home. Dorothy pursued many interests, learning to play the violin, saxophone and clarinet. She met her husband Charles at a local dance where she was playing. In 1939, they opened an automobile and farm machinery business in Welland. In their spare time, they were active in skeet and trap shooting, for which Dorothy won many trophies. In the early 1940s, Dorothy developed a passion for horses, training and showing them in addition to teaching riding at the Welland Riding Club, as well as judging at horse shows. By the late 1940s her interest in horses was waning, but she soon after discovered and pursued a new interest: flying. She joined the Welland Flying Club, obtained a flying licence, and in 1949 purchased her first plane. She proceeded to obtain a Commercial Pilot Licence in 1951, an Instructor’s Licence in 1953, and a Senior Commercial Licence in 1954. She participated in many air races in the 1950s, including the All Women’s International Air Races, the Women’s Transcontinental Air Races, and the Canadian Governor-General’s Cup Air Race. Some of the most notable races were the 1954 International Air Race, where Dorothy met with President Batista of Cuba, and the Governor-General’s Cup Air Race, where she won 1st place in 1953 and 1956 (and was the only woman competing). In 1958, she was also the first Canadian woman to solo pilot a helicopter. That same year she obtained her Airline Transport Licence. She also wrote several articles on aviation, contributing to publications such as Canadian Aviation and Air Facts, a U.S. aviation magazine. In addition to these articles, Dorothy authored several books about her life, as well as a selection of poems and articles by Ethelwyn Wetherald. As planes became more expensive, Dorothy spent less time flying, instead pursuing an interest in sailing. She and her husband bought a sailboat and became members of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Sailing Club. In 2003, Dorothy was awarded the Order of Canada for her accomplishments. She also wrote a regular column for the Voice of Pelham in 2012-2013, called A Century in Pelham. Dorothy celebrated her 100th birthday in 2011, and remains an active member of the community.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 17 February 1917

This letter mentions a visit from Arthur in the next couple of days. He will visit Eleanor Celeste for two days and home to see his mother and friends for four days.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 26 January 1918

There are two letters included, one from Eleanore Celeste, the second letter from Arthur Schmon's parents. The first letter from E.C. mentions that she is staying at Arthur's parents home for the night so that she can attend a party close by. The second letter is written by his mother (as mentioned in the letter from E.C.) and reads: " Arthur dear, We are very glad to have Celeste with us tonight. It takes a little of our blues away. I am so disappointed that you are not coming home right away, but I hope and pray that our Heavenly Father will watch over you and bring you safely back to us. We will pray for you. Your loving Mother and Father.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 25 November 1919

The letter begins with discussion about possible improper handling of "the books". She then describes "new plans" for their home. The second letter discusses her mother having five teeth extracted and two abscesses burned off. Her sister also had a wisdom tooth removed. The first letter is labelled number 56 and the second 57.

Letter - E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 6 January 1919

The letter mentions that Eleanore Celeste's mother "is so much better" so she "shall be able to teach several days a week now". She says that "word has just been sent thru the buidling that Theodore Roosevelt died at his Long Island home today." This letter is labelled number 212.

Photograph - The Home of Bacardi, Santiago de Cuba

A photograph of "The Home of Bacardi - Santiago de Cuba" from a folder containing six photograph in total. The package was created by Bacardi and contains photographs of historical places at Santiago de Cuba.

Music Score - The Drunkard's Home, As it was Temperance Song and As it is Chorus

A music score called "The Drunkard's Home" by Frank Howard. The front cover of the score has an illustration of two different experiences. One side of the illustration appears to be a family sitting by the fire as the patriarch reads the newspaper and the matriarch tends to one of the children. The other side of the illustration shows children on the floor in torn clothing as a female is slumped over a table and two men stumble in the door.

Photograph - Dr. Cleveland's Home

Black and white, 12 cm x 18 cm photograph, mounted on board, of Dr. Cleveland’s home described on the back by R. Band of Toronto in 1975. There are 2 dogs in the photo, one appears to be an Irish setter and the other dog is a Chihuahua.

Photograph - Julia Cleveland Woodruff at Dr. Cleveland's Home

Black and white photograph, mounted on board, 18 cm x 12 cm, of Julia Cleveland wife of Hamilton K. Woodruff. She is posing with a setter and the Chihuahua at Dr. Cleveland’s house in Erie Pennsylvania. This photograph is mounted on a board. This was described by R. Band of Toronto on the back of the photo in 1975.

Photograph - Front of a Home

A photograph of the front of a home. There is a high front porch and trees on either side. The picture is taken on an angle.

Photograph - Mother in Law, Baby and Raymond

A photograph of an elderly woman holding a baby and a small child sitting next to her. The note on the reverse of the photograph reads, "Mother-in-law 84 years old, Baby and Raymond".

Mother of Pearl and Amber Handle Interlocking Knife and Fork

The blade on the knife is printed "Balboa". The knife and fork fit into eachother. There is some rust on the blade and marks on the handle. The knife and fork each measure 18cm. When they are joined they measure 19cm.