Posted on May 22, 2019 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 May 21, 2019 by Coty Zachariah
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.
Posted on by Coty Zachariah
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.
Posted on May 16, 2019 by Jaclyn Wong
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/
Posted on May 13, 2019 by Mary Ellen Simon
Elizabeth Sault seeks to provide holistic educational opportunities to community members with the aim of violence reduction.
Elizabeth Sault speaks about an education that seeks to achieve the goal of violence reduction. Sault hosts group workshops for participants but much of her program is structured to address the needs of the individual, including crisis assistance. Her one-to-one support stems from her ability to create a comfortable connection and trust which can lead to advocacy, resources, housing, and building empowering life skills. Sault recognizes that violence reduction is multifaceted and speaks about the importance of creating holistic educational opportunities that build up the individual while creating awareness about important issues like MMIW and human trafficking. She speaks about the importance of identity and how it empowers the individual by illustrating the role of colonization in the creation of a culture of violence. Workshops focused on creation stories, medicine walks, connection to Elders, and individual support in reconnecting to the Indigenous community. These workshops help individuals to ground themselves in a healthy Indigenous identity. The goals of the program are to increase housing, support for men, and land-based retreats.
Posted on May 10, 2019 by Christine Fiddler
Since 1972, SICC has been protecting, preserving, and promoting First Nations languages.
Priscilla St. John is the Education and Language Specialist for the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (SICC). As the first Indigenous controlled education institution serving Saskatchewan, SICC offers opportunities for cultural revitalization for the following First Nations: Plains Cree, Swampy Cree, Woodlands Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakota and Lakota. First Nations Elders met to discuss the importance of Indigenous language acquisition and developed outcomes that, combined with the provincially mandated curriculum, create the language-based curriculum that SICC promotes. St. John explains, First Nations languages start with our ways of knowing, our stories, our ancestors, our laws, our protocols, and are guided by Elders, which are all connected to the Creator. SICC provides First Nations with educational resources and language workshops that derive from their land-based and sacred language curricula. These opportunities and resources are available to anyone who is interested in language revitalization.
Posted on April 16, 2019 by stephenjolly
Secwepemc Elder, Mike Arnouse shares the traditional knowledge of his community. He discusses the ways of life of Indigenous peoples before European contact and how colonialism has impacted their ways of life. He shares stories about the significance that the salmon held for his people, the creatures and the land. Mike also talks about his […]
Secwepemc Elder, Mike Arnouse shares the traditional knowledge of his community. He discusses the ways of life of Indigenous peoples before European contact and how colonialism has impacted their ways of life. He shares stories about the significance that the salmon held for his people, the creatures and the land. Mike also talks about his hope that efforts will be made to keep the traditions and cultural practices alive in the generations to come.
Posted on April 3, 2019 by Christine Fiddler
Elder Coordinator and Cree Language Interpreter, Clarence Whitstone speaks on the importance of the Cree Language.
The First Nations University of Canada’s Elder’s Council Coordinator and Cree Language Interpreter, Clarence Whitstone, of the Onion Lake Cree Nation, shares information on the work he does on educating the public about Indigenous topics such as: the Frog Lake Massacre, treaties, residential schools, and languages from the First Nations perspective. Whitstone has over twelve years of proven translation services experience. Whitstone maintains that language and culture can’t be separated and must be preserved for our future generations. First Nations language must be used in all of our ceremonies, cultures and traditions. Language is our spirituality – our way of life.
Posted on March 30, 2019 by Sara Fulla
The Aboriginal Leadership Certificate allows Indigenous students to gain practical tools and knowledge to work at management and administrator levels within Indigenous organizations across Canada. NIC is honoured to acknowledge the traditional territories of the combined 35 First Nations of the Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka’wakw and Coast Salish traditions, on whose traditional and unceded territories NIC’s campuses […]
The Aboriginal Leadership Certificate allows Indigenous students to gain practical tools and knowledge to work at management and administrator levels within Indigenous organizations across Canada. NIC is honoured to acknowledge the traditional territories of the combined 35 First Nations of the Nuu-chah-nulth, Kwakwaka’wakw and Coast Salish traditions, on whose traditional and unceded territories NIC’s campuses are situated.
