Tag Archives: Indigenous

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

 

http://www.yourcier.org

 

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.

 

Module 4 Post 2: Sierra Club of BC. Education Learning Resource: Climate Change

Description:

A pdf document by the Sierra Club of BC on Climate Change. I like the keywords (see below) that were defined the beginning. This helps students start their learning on this important topic.

The Climate Change activity was fun and engaging as students make daily life connections. They eventually develop positive and realistic ways they can help with climate change. A student of mine used this activity as an inspiration for an inquiry-based lab on water pollution.

Link: http://sierraclub.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/climate-change-learning-resource.pdf

5 Indigenous artists you need to know in 2018

From bringing hip-hop and poetry to city hall to creating teen-friendly traditional music (throat singing plus ukulele for the win!), CBC Music celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day with five emerging artists that you need to know in 2018. With embedded videos, and introductions to the artists, have a listen to wonderful current indigenous artists.

Module 3 Post 4: Staying the Course, Staying Alive – Coastal First Nations Fundamental Truths: Biodiversity, Stewardship, and Sustainability

Description:

This book describes the 7 Fundamental Truths shared by the majority of BC First Nations. An insightful read that incorporates traditional teachings and oral storytelling. I learned from Heiltsuk, Namgis and Haida First Peoples perspectives on land and stewardship.

Link: http://www.biodiversitybc.org/assets/Default/BBC_Staying_the_Course_Web.pdf

Module 2 Post 3: Ktunaxa Nation Creation Story (Ktunaxa Nation website)

Description:

The creation story told by Ktunaxa Nation, who are the people that lived on the lands next to Kootenay and Columbia Rivers and the Arrow Lakes of British Columbia for more than 10,000 years. Qat’muk is where the Grizzly Bear Spirit lived and maintained a presence. Thus, the Ktunaxa have a stewardship kinship to the Grizzly Bear Spirit and Qat’muk.

Students learn about the story of chase and events that lead up to today’s landscape. There are hand-drawn photos to accompany and illustrate the Creation story.

Link: http://www.ktunaxa.org/who-we-are/creation-story/

 

Module 2 Post 2: Canoe designs of the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest

Description:

This website illustrates the various Canoe designs of the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest.  Students can use this website to learn, discover and research the canoes used traditionally in BC.

Photo credits: Don Hitchcock 2012

Link: https://www.donsmaps.com/canoedesigns.html

 

Module 2 Post 1: Introduction to Secwepemc First Nation

Description:

An interactive guide to illustrate and immerse learners about the Secwepemc First Nation. Students will learn the origin story, language, village life, and archeology. I was personally invested in the First Peoples tools and resources used by for coastal First Nations.

Correct pronunciation audio, interactive galleries, photos, and description files allow students to better learn authentically. There is a glossary of important terms used. For example:

C7es7’istkten: Means winter village in the Secwepemc language.
Celebration: Done to honour an event.
Compassion: Pity for the distress of another.
Consecutive: Following in uninterrupted sequence.
Consensus: A collective opinion or general agreement.
Considered: To think about.
Construct: To build.
Consumed: To eat drink or use up.
Contemporaries: Belonging to the same age.
Correspond: To be similar in character or function.
Crosshatch: To shade by cross lines.
Cultivating: To make fit for raising crops as by plowing or fertilizing.
Counsel: A mutual exchange of advice or opinions.

This is a useful way for students to solidify new terms and vocabulary.

The teacher may also further expand on lesson on the various Secwepemc resource links provided on this website.

Link: http://secwepemc.sd73.bc.ca

Related Link:

Welcome to the Secwepemc Nation http://www.secwepemc.org/
Secwepemc Language Resource http://www.secwepemc.org/monas.html
Shuswap Nation Tribal Council http://www.secwepemc.org/sntc.html
Henry Grube Education Centre – Professional Library http://hgec-web.sd73.bc.ca/wx/s.dll?d=combo_search.htm

POST 2 – How to talk about Indigenous people – David Loti

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEzjA5RoLv0

Visited 25 September 2018

 

Journalist Ossie Michelin provides a quick overview of the use of the terms Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Aboriginal and encourages people to choose the term to “be as specific as possible.” One take away from this video is that Inuit means people; thus as Michelin says, “Don’t say Inuit people because that’s redundant.”

(Entry 2) Article: Does Information Really Want to be Free? Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the Question of Openness

Article: Does Information Really Want to be Free? Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the Question of Openness

Kimberly Christen’s article, “Does Information Really Want to be Free? Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the Question of Openness” describes her experience creating and launching Mukurtu, a Content Management System (CMS).  What makes Mukurtu different than other CMS’ is that it is designed to encourage (particularly Indigenous) communities to exchange, share, and manage their cultural traditions in their own way and on their own terms.

Christen, K. (2012). Does Information Really Want to be Free? Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the Question of Openness. International Journal of Communication, 6, 2870–2893

URL:  Does Information Really Want to be Free?  Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the Question of Openness