Posted on by Sara Fulla
Post-Secondary Education, Indigenous Education
The Office of Aboriginal Education and Engagement works collaboratively with Services for Aboriginal Students at Vancouver Island University to support Indigenous students, and foster their successes. Cultural activitives are offered throughout the academic year, including the Na’tsa’ maht Shqwaluwun, One Heart, One Mind – Understanding Indigenous Perspectives Learning Series.
Posted on March 27, 2019 by Mary Ellen Simon
Ashley Buch speaks about the importance of identity, space, and fostering relationships with Niagara College staff to support Indigenous students.
Ashley Buck works to create a culturally sensitive space and to provide services to Indigenous students that are important to their success within both of the Niagara College campuses. This program acknowledges that students are the experts (TRC Calls to Action), and uses their input and knowledge to shape the services provided. Utilizing Indigenous student voices taps into knowledge that they have been given by their ancestors which empowers students while promoting leadership to shape education and campus culture.
Living in two worlds can be a challenge to an Indigenous student, especially for those living in an urban centre for the first time. The Indigenous lounge is a physical space where peer support and community is fostered. Buck explains that mirroring the support of an Indigenous community is a goal of the program. Such support enables students to make the transition to a college atmosphere easier and increases their ability to achieve success in their studies. Taking the lead from students, this mirroring has involved smudging, talking circles, meetings with Elders, and soup luncheons. The program seeks to advocate for Indigenous awareness within the college by hosting their 2nd annual Indigenous Awareness Month.
Posted on by Dene Basil
The Indigenous Land Guardians program is designed to train local Dene people to become knowledgeable in their local culture and traditions as well as current conservation and monitoring practices.
Josh Barichello shares about the Indigenous Land Guardians program in Ross River. The program is still in the development stage and Barichello is a part of the development team for the program. The program is designed to train local Dene people to become knowledgeable in their local culture and traditions as well as current conservation and monitoring practices. The program will utilize traditional and ecological knowledge with scientific knowledge to build a bridge between both worlds so that their land, wildlife, and water is being well managed.
Posted on March 26, 2019 by Jiah Dzentu
All grade 7 and 8 students attend this fall culture camp in Wood Buffalo National Park. Here they learn land-based skills, canoe safety, traditional medicines and much more. This camp is supported by the local school board and community.
All grade 7 and 8 students attend this fall culture camp in Wood Buffalo National Park. Here they learn land-based skills, canoe safety, traditional medicines and much more. This camp is supported by the local school board and community.
Posted on March 25, 2019 by Sarah Delaronde
Reconnecting high risk youth through carving and traditional knowledge to find balance.
The Beginners Carving Program is for high risk youth but also for anybody who’s interested, “from the cradle to the grave”. The overall goal of this program is to reconnect youth to traditional ways of knowledge, art, the land, language and elders, in order to be productive in the future. This program is also a wellness program with hopes that they can become substance free and find balance in their life. This program is offered in studio as well as on the land, throughout the year. More information can be found at: https://northernculture.org/about-us-2/.
Posted on March 22, 2019 by Jiah Dzentu
PWK Secondary School Chipewyan classroom.
This Chipewyan language classroom for grades 7-12 teaches more than just the language. Paul Boucher passes on cultural values and laws, teaches traditional crafts, and hopes to instill a sense of cultural pride in his students.
Posted on by Evangeline Clifton
The Wiichihew Program is offered by the Mid-Island Métis Nation and serves Indigenous Students in high schools, alternative learning programs, and Vancouver Island University. It supports students by sharing resources, supports, community and cultural events, emotional support, etc. This program was established in 2016, and is available to all Indigenous Learners in High school/University level. […]
The Wiichihew Program is offered by the Mid-Island Métis Nation and serves Indigenous Students in high schools, alternative learning programs, and Vancouver Island University. It supports students by sharing resources, supports, community and cultural events, emotional support, etc. This program was established in 2016, and is available to all Indigenous Learners in High school/University level. The Coordinator is a student advocate, she connects the students to resources and resource people who can assist the student with current issues/situations as well as future goals and aspirations. The amount and type of support offered is based on the students individual needs.
Posted on by Pam Greene
Audio interview with Indigenous Educator Penny Cardinal-Kotash perspective from Treaty 8, High Level, Alberta.
Penny Cardinal-Kotash is a Indigenous Teacher who teaches in High Level, Alberta. She is passionate about teaching students and infuses Indigenous education throughout the Language Arts, Social Studies, and Math curriculum. She utilizes her own experience to help students learn about the Cree culture but of other Indigenous cultures. Mrs. Kotash explains that Indigenous students need to see themselves in everyday society, to learn that Indigenous peoples have always been here, and to learn about their own culture and others in which each are a part of Canada’s fabric. She helps other Educators in the Division and encourages them to choose and identify where the literature originates from, as well as the region they belong to, to ensure it’s relevancy for their region. Penny Cardinal-Kotash is part of the Division’s FNMI cohort and provides resources, and support to understand we are not all the same culture and to base their teachings relative to the language and its region.
