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Executive Director of Niagara Regional Native Centre (NRNC) – Walking in Two Worlds

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.

Indigenous Cultural Arts Engagement

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.

Canadian Roots Exchange

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.

All Canadians Can Gain Knowledge of the Truth of Indigenous History and Reality

Darlene Horseman is a professor at the Grande Prairie Regional College. She shares her perspective of the post secondary education system and process from her experience as a student to a professor. She speaks of what was taught in Indigenous studies and how it has changed from very vague information to very concise.

Darlene Horseman is a professor at the Grande Prairie Regional College. She shares her perspective of the post secondary education system and process from her experience as a student to a professor. She speaks of what was taught in Indigenous studies and how it has changed from very vague information to very concise.

Annapolis Valley First Nation School – Debra Toney

Debra Toney, a former student at the Annapolis Valley First Nation School, talks about how the school is so effective in fostering student success.

Debra Toney, a former student at the Annapolis Valley First Nation School, talks about how the school is so effective in fostering student success.

Akwesahsne Freedom School

First Nations led education in community

The Akwesahsne Freedom School was started in 1979 by parents in the Mohawk community that saw a need to preserve their ways and play an active role in the education of the nation starting with the children. They wanted their kids to be educated in the language, to be raised with ceremony and culture on the land of their ancestors without the influence and interference of the Western world. This approach has lead to results such as an increase in speakers of Mohawk language, rejuvenation of cultural strength and familiarity, and the continuance of inter-generational hands on learning.

4R’s Youth Movement

Youth Empowerment Movement

4R’s is a national youth run and led organization that helps build the capacity of young people by providing meaningful places for them to develop and learn. They create opportunities and experiences in regions across the country to allow change makers the spaces to work on educational and community building initiatives, with the support of a network of national partners and adult allies.

Ontario Teachers’ Federation Resources and Supports to Teachers

All year round, the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) offers a variety of resources and learning opportunities for K-12 teachers, as well as teacher candidates, across the province of Ontario and online. OTF aims to introduce support and develop understanding of truth and movement towards reconciliation. As the voice of Ontario teachers, OTF is a member […]

All year round, the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) offers a variety of resources and learning opportunities for K-12 teachers, as well as teacher candidates, across the province of Ontario and online. OTF aims to introduce support and develop understanding of truth and movement towards reconciliation. As the voice of Ontario teachers, OTF is a member of the Minister’s Advisory Council on First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education, which provides counsel on matters germane to Indigenous education. OTF was one of the members of the government-convened 2017 Joint Implementation Work Group, which was tasked with identifying recommended revisions to the Social Studies (Grades 4-6), History (Grades 7-10) and Civics (Grade 10) curricula to increase and deepen the focus of teaching and learning about Indigenous peoples, perspectives and experiences. Several examples of OTF’s resources and tools include: Books of Life, Survive and Thrive, OTF Connects webinars, Inspire Financial Learning, Teaching Learning Co-op (TLC) projects, and Summer Institutes. For more information, check out OTF’s website at: www.otffeo.on.ca/en/

Indigenous Education at Mohawk College, Hamilton, Ontario

Leah Hogan is the Manager of Indigenous Education at Mohawk College.  She talks about the Indigenous Education academic program at the college and its goals of increasing post-secondary access for Indigenous youth and supporting them in their education.  Mohawk College offers joint programs with their community partners at Ogwehoweh Skills and Trades Training Centre and […]

Leah Hogan is the Manager of Indigenous Education at Mohawk College.  She talks about the Indigenous Education academic program at the college and its goals of increasing post-secondary access for Indigenous youth and supporting them in their education.  Mohawk College offers joint programs with their community partners at Ogwehoweh Skills and Trades Training Centre and Six Nations Polytechnic for students and youth ages 16 and up.  Certificate programs include: Mental Health and Disability Management; Construction Techniques; Personal Support Worker; Social Service Worker.  For more information see their website: https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/indigenous-students

Annapolis Valley First Nation School – Madelyn Coldwell

Madelyn Coldwell, a recent graduate at Annapolis Valley First Nation School, discusses her experiences at the school and how it has helped her achieve success.

Madelyn Coldwell, a recent graduate at Annapolis Valley First Nation School, discusses her experiences at the school and how it has helped her achieve success.