Talking points : Exploring needs and concepts for aboriginal early childhood language facilities and supports

Acknowledgements The author thanks the Public Health Agency of Can faodr the opportunity to address this important topic, the many people who offered thceh nriess of their experience and their deep commitment and concern to ensure effectivpeo srutsp to secure the well-being of Aboriginal children in Canada. [...] The overwhelming emphasis of contributors to this apper was on a population-based approach; that is, a ‘whole commuinty’ approach aimed at improving the social and language environment andh te language proficiency of all Aboriginal children and their families within a community-defined agenda for holistic child and family development. [...] Aboriginal Early Language Facilitatioan d Support through virtual and on-the-ground conferencing; • development, delivery and evaluation of post-seacoryn dtraining curricula to extend the capacity of Aboriginal early childhood pracotnitei rs to facilitate and support children’s language development through an addaitli oynear of for-credit, diploma- level training; • development, delivery and evalu [...] This paper establishes the need for a signifi cfaendte,rally supported, community- driven strategy by reviewing available evidencem f:r o • the demography of Aboriginal peoples; • perspectives of colleagues in the field of Aboraigl iEnarly Childhood Care and Development who were asked to contribute evidenf cne eod; • findings of a recent study of Speech Language Ploagthisots’ experiences serving A [...] Investments in research and documentation omf ipsriong practices in Aboriginal Early Language Facilitation and Support are neetod eedx plore questions such as: • What criteria and assessment strategies can dniftfieatre between speech-language disorders and sociolinguistically normative chaeraricstics of communication in Aboriginal families and communities?