Posted on June 4, 2019 by Justina Black
John B Zoe, Senior Advisor with the Tłı̨chǫ Government, talks about the importance of Tłı̨chǫ traditional knowledge, Land, Language and Culture. John also sits as the Chairperson of Dedats’eetsaa: the Tłı̨chǫ Research & Training Institute.
John B Zoe, Senior Advisor with the Tłı̨chǫ Government, talks about the importance of Tłı̨chǫ traditional knowledge, Land, Language and Culture. John also sits as the Chairperson of Dedats’eetsaa: the Tłı̨chǫ Research & Training Institute.
Posted on May 31, 2019 by Mary Ellen Simon
Chris Shawanoo speaks about the role of the NRNC in providing holistic educational opportunities to the Niagara urban Indigenous community.
Chris Shawanoo speaks about the holistic programming provided by the Niagara Regional Native Centre (NRNC) to urban Indigenous community members, as well as the start of the Indigenous school Soaring Eagles. Shawanoo uses personal stories and passes down teachings given to him to illustrate the importance of holistic education and western education. Walking in two worlds involves cultural revitalization to ground an individual to a strong identity while providing culturally sensitive educational opportunities to combat systemic oppression, colonization, and poverty. Recognition is given to the importance of a non-western education as well as the importance of language revitalization.
Shawanoo also speaks about NRNC’s partnership with the Catholic District School Board to start up Soaring Eagles Indigenous school as a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. He uses stories and teachings to illustrate the holistic education model to answer questions about Indigenous education.
Posted on by Tina Trombley
Holly Rae Yuzicapi uses Indigenous cultural art techniques to teach about Indigenous history and culture, identity, personal expression, and defining relationships to the land.
Holly Rae Yuzicapi is a proud Dakota/Lakota woman from the Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation in southern Saskatchewan. She is an instructor of cultural arts, traditional food, and traditional games, facilitating workshops for all ages throughout Canada and the United States. Her workshops are predominantly offered to schools, from early elementary to high school, and have been adapted for teacher professional development engagements.
The cultural arts workshops are offered over the course of several classes so that students understand the history of both culture and art, establish their own connection with what they are learning, and to ensure their spirit is engaged while their mind and body are expressing themselves through art. In her workshops, she focuses on cultural parallels instead of cultural differences and discusses six common elements of culture: language, kinship, process and transferring of traditional knowledge, connection to the environment, ceremonies and celebrations, and forms of expression.
For Yuzicapi, it is essential that individuals come to understand their identity and cultural art engagements offer a gateway to connecting identities to art forms of expression. She harvests traditional and natural materials like: porcupine quills, fish scales, and moose hair for quillwork, beadwork, and embroidery. Yuzicapi’s workshops enhance school programs by using art to build cross-cultural understanding while being infused with Indigenous history and art.
Posted on May 23, 2019 by Coty Zachariah
Reconciliation projects and exchanges
Canadian Roots Exchange (CRE) is an active youth organization with a mission to strengthen relationships between Indigenous & non-Indigenous youth by facilitating dialogue through leadership programs, exchanges, national gatherings, and workshops. They run national programming and develop teams in major cities across the country that work on reconciliation projects and bridging the gaps between our differing cultures.
Posted on by Trisha Campbell
Supervisor of Indigenous Education, Sarah Longman, discusses the programs she oversees for Regina Public Schools.
As the Supervisor of Indigenous Education for Regina Public Schools, Sarah Longman oversees the academic standing of all self-declared Indigenous students in the division, to ensure they are successful in acquiring the credits needed to stay on track to graduate. When it is identified that a student may need extra support, there are a number of ways this support is provided. There is an Indigenous Advocate Teachers Program, whereby trained teachers of Indigenous backgrounds are placed in high schools to monitor the progress of self-declared students. If needed, the Indigenous Advocate teacher will work with the student to get them back on track by contacting the parents/guardians and teachers to help identify the barriers that may be preventing a student from succeeding.
Another source of support for students is an Elders in Residence Program. The Elders provide cultural understanding and cultural affirmation for Indigenous students and are overall positive role models. Elders bring their knowledge and expertise into the classroom and they may help non-Indigenous teaching staff to navigate sensitive topics such as residential schools. Elders may also connect with families by teaming up with the Indigenous Advocate teachers and provide support to the student and family that are experiencing challenges in school or at home.
There is an Elders Advisory Council that advises the Board of Trustees for Regina Public Schools. These Elders offer cultural understanding and cultural knowledge that guide the Trustees when they are making decisions that impact Indigenous students and the community. A lot of work is being done to bring culturally affirmative resources into the schools to develop contemporary representations of who Indigenous people are – with the aim to eradicate and replace negative stereotypes about Indigenous people.
Longman hopes that in the years to come, there will be more Indigenous educators, Indigenous doctors, Indigenous engineers, etc., taking the best of the Western world and finding ways to utilize technology to promote and sustain who they are as Indigenous people.
Posted on by Lisa Jodoin
Valeri Pilgrim, Manager of the Aboriginal Resource Office at Memorial University, discusses the various programs and supports available to Indigenous students at Memorial University.
Valeri Pilgrim, Manager of the Aboriginal Resource Office at Memorial University, discusses the various programs and supports available to Indigenous students at Memorial University.
Posted on by Echo Mcleod
Laurie McLeod of Nipissing First Nation shares her understanding of engaging the spirit within all areas of life. She shares her own knowledge of Indigenous education and how to better support people seeking guidance within academia.
Laurie McLeod of Nipissing First Nation shares her understanding of engaging the spirit within all areas of life. She shares her own knowledge of Indigenous education and how to better support people seeking guidance within academia.
