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ETFO: Engaging with Educators

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) offers educators opportunities to learn about Indigenous peoples through professional learning and curriculum resources.  

The ETFO is a union for elementary public school educators in Ontario. Professional learning opportunities are provided for ETFO members in Toronto and throughout Ontario at ETFO offices. Curriculum resources are available to any educator online through the ETFO website. Programs are offered throughout the school year and are geared towards Indigenous and non-Indigenous members. There are also programs designed to engage Indigenous members to become more involved with the federation and to empower leadership.

 

Language is Our Spirituality – Our Way of Life

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.

Language Revitalization Program

The Language Revitalization Program, facilitated by Fran Brown in Bella Bella, BC, involves Heiltsuk language learning activities.

Fran Brown has 15 years of experience teaching the Heiltsuk language within the community school in Bella Bella, BC, and has successfully adapted teaching techniques to suit the local children. The Language Revitalization Program connects programs delivered by local organizations to ensure the revitalization of the Heiltsuk language. The resilience of the Heiltsuk teachers and learners can contribute to the future of other languages across Canada.

Darren McGregor – Connections

There is more to our existence within this physical realm.

There is more to our existence within this physical realm.

Indigenous Land Guardians

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.

Northern Cultural Expressions Society Beginners Carving Program

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/.

Northern Cultural Expressions Society Art Education Program

This transformational program allows First Nations mentors/Master Carvers to go into Yukon schools and educate all students about traditional art forms and more.

The Art Education Program is for school aged children from Kindergarten to Grade 12. This transformational program allows First Nations mentors/Master Carvers to go into Yukon schools and engage with all students (First Nations and Non), in order to educate them about traditional art forms. Along with this, students also learn more about the traditions, the history and stories behind carving. More information can be found here: https://northernculture.org/art-education-program-overview/.

PWK Secondary School Chipewyan Classroom

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.

Community Elder Perspective – Albina Cardinal

Elder, Albina Cardinal believes that a curriculum that is infused with Indigenous history makes progress in the healing and understanding of Indigenous communities.

Albina Cardinal is an Elder and a residential school survivor. She enjoys the opportunity to interact with students and share her experiences at residential school with students (K-3) and teachers. Cardinal has presented to teachers on professional development days held at the High Level school. These presentations provide educators with opportunities to ask questions about being a residential school survivor and teaches the students about the history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Cardinal believes that it is important to learn about Indigenous history and language in order to reclaim Indigenous languages. She shared a story of when she was young and the many things she learned from her parents when she was home in the summer, fall and sometimes winter. She fondly remembers her mom making her brothers and sisters a pair of moccasins to wear at residential school when they had to return.

Indigenous Teacher Perspective – Penny Cardinal-Kotash

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.