Enhancing School Science with Indigenous Knowledge: What We Know from Teachers and Research is a handbook prepared for the Saskatoon Public Schools. Multiple authors contribute stories, studies and research relating to the topic. Some of the sections include: combining Indigenous knowledge and science, initial concerns of teachers, critical elements that produce student achievement and culturally valid assessment. This handbook answered many questions I had about incorporating Indigenous knowledge into the science curriculum.
Category Archives: Module 4
Post #17 – Honouring Earth – http://www.afn.ca/honoring-earth/
http://www.afn.ca/honoring-earth/
This page from the Assembly of First Nations offers a deep and wide perspective on ecology and the policies required to support a healthy environment. It also links out to other external resources such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the SARA Survival Guide. This page has a massive amount of links to all kinds of related content fact sheets, research papers, and facebook groups. This page would be an excellent resource for any teacher planning lessons seeking to integrate indigenous perspectives on specific and current ecological initiatives. It covers a variety of topics and is an excellent starting point for immersing a learner into the issues and current policies and initiatives.
Post #16 – CIER – Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources
CIER describes itself as a “…national First Nation directed environmental non-profit organisation…”. Their goals are to help develop sustainable communities and contribute to a healthy environment. They offer quite a variety of free publications with research related to their areas of focus, including protecting land and water, building sustainable communities, and their corporate reports. Their website also features a blog and links to workshops such as this one:
http://www.yourcier.org/watershed-planning1.html
The section on their current projects is particularly compelling and inspiring. For example, the Shared Future project is designed to “Bring forward stories of reconciliation and healing in intersectoral partnerships under the umbrella of renewable energy conservation, efficiency, and development.” Its project page has download links for the initial plan as well as the subsequent updates, and also the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RObUofPiN8&feature=youtu.be
Overall they have a wide variety of information and resources on current issues and initiatives.
Who’s Asking? Native Science, Western Science, and Science Education
The authors, Douglas Medin and Megan Bang, describe the two knowledge systems and how they can influence each other. Influences of culture are examined. Chapter 5 titled Science Reflects Who Does It, sheds light on the influence of the dominant culture on science and its outcomes.
Secwepemc Traditional Medicine
Published by the Three Corners Health Services Society in Williams Lake, this book is a collection of plants native to the central interior region. Each plant is identified both by common name and by the Secwepemc name. Descriptions of what, where and when to collect is given for each plane as well as the medicinal uses and how to prepare the material.
Bridging Cultures Indigenous and Scientific Ways of Knowing Nature
In this book by Glen Aikenhead and Herman Michell, Western science and Indigenous ways of knowing nature are explained in great detail. The contrast and benefits of the two systems is discussed. Excellent book to explore the differences between the two systems.
Plant Technology
The book, Plant Technology by Nancy Turner is a comprehensive collection of plants and how the First Nations in British Columbia utilize them. Each plant has a botanical description, habitat, distribution in B.C., picture, common name and scientific name. Each plant’s uses are described as well as which groups use them. Excellent resource for incorporating into place-based learning activities
Post #5 – The importance of Languages Legislation
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/indigenous-languages-legislation.html
This government website highlights the efforts made by the agencies below to work together in collaboration to develop languages legislation. The Department of Canadian Heritage, the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Métis Nation are working together to co-develop national First Nations, Inuit and Métis languages legislation that will reflect the distinct geographical, political, legislative and cultural context impacting language preservation, promotion and revitalization.
Post #4 – Inuit Nunangat Storytelling Project
https://www.itk.ca/taimannganit/
Digital storytelling is a great way to preserve language and culture, bridging the two worlds of traditional Indigenous ways of knowing and modern-day use of technology.
This storytelling project tells the story of Inuit Nunangat (the Inuit homeland in Canada) from time immemorial (taimannganit). Individuals share their digital stories about their connections to the land and sea, as well as their legends, histories, and relationship with the environment and all living things within it. Through these stories, the aim of the website is to help build unity and create a greater appreciation of Inuit history among all Canadians.
Post #3 – Inuktut language teaching resources
Inuktut-language teaching materials can be hard to come by – and no less in a pre-school environment. To help overcome this, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has launched an interactive digital library of English and Inuktut materials to help early childhood educators and families to better share their resources.
Katiqsugat is a digital collection of Inuit-specific early childhood education materials and a way for Inuit to share their knowledge. On this site, you will find a variety of culturally and linguistically appropriate materials to help you in the classroom, from policy manuals, teaching tools, and meal plans, to activity ideas for Inuit children and original research on Inuit early childhood development.