Canadian Association for the Study of Indigenous Education 

About CASIE

The Canadian Association for the Study of Indigenous Education (CASIE) promotes the study and dialogue of professors, students, researchers and practitioners in the field of Aboriginal/Indigenous education. CASIE is a constituent association of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE).
​The purpose of the Aboriginal/Indigenous association as noted in the CASIE by-laws is listed as follows:
  • to foster the exchange of ideas about ongoing research and development in Aboriginal/Indigenous (hereafter Indigenous) Education in Canada.
  • to provide a forum for discussion of Indigenous education studies in a Canadian context.
  • to encourage the publication of papers and reports of scholarly work in Indigenous education
  • to bring together members whose disciplines are quite diverse but who maintain a common interest in Indigenous education.
  • to foster and encourage commitment to research priorities of Indigenous peoples and their communities and respectful research processes and protocols with/in Canadian life-wide and life-long educational spheres.

History of CASIE

The idea for an Indigenous constituent association of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education was discussed during the Indigenous assemblies scheduled as part of the CSSE conference program agenda since 1998. The CSSE 1998 conference identified Merle Richards (Brock University) as chairing the assembly at which time the idea of developing terms of reference, constitutional items, membership, and assembly aspirations would take place. Laara Fitznor (OISE/UT) co-chaired the meeting which resulted in a discussion of the needs and aspirations for an association and decision to ensure that at minimum an Indigenous assembly should be scheduled in each upcoming CSSE conference program until an association was formed to include the leadership of Indigenous faculty. It was hoped that during this process that a critical mass of individuals interested in such an association would eventually become a reality. Over the next few years a number of interested faculty, students, researchers, and practitioners both Indigenous and Canadian met during the scheduled times to continue with the conversation to form an association.
At the 2008 CSSE conference, a motion to request an Indigenous​ association was put to the assembly to vote for the newly formed Canadian Association for the Study of Indigenous Education (CASIE). The motion was carried. CASIE is now another national constituent association within the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE). CASIE executive for the 2008/09 year comprise of the following individuals:
  • Laara Fitznor, University of Manitoba
  • Dwayne Donald, University of Alberta
  • Marie Battiste, University of Saskatchewan
  • Rainey Gaywish, University of Manitoba
  • Cam Willett, Laurentian University
  • Verna Billy-Minnabarriet, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. 
Once these critical pieces were confirmed, the next step was to present a motion to the CSSE AGM for ratification that the Canadian Association for the Study of Indigenous Education become a constituent association of the Canadian Society for the Study of Education. The motion was carried.
Since then, CASIE has grown to include over 170 members from across Canada.  Our yearly meetings provide stimulating discussion and an opportunity to share research in the ever-expanding field of Indigenous education.  True to our roots, we continue to include both academic and community voices in our association.