I have not yet decided on a direction for my research in this class, but am sharing what I have come across so far as I consider the readings we have done so far and am beginning to look forward to my own research project:
In this together; Fifteen stories of truth and reconciliation
This collection of essays from indigenous and non-indigenous writers in Canada explores ideas related to the recommendations for truth and reconciliation. It is an eye-opening look at assumptions about first nations and colonization.
Metcalf-Chenail, D. (2016). In this together; Fifteen stories of truth and reconciliation. Victoria: Brindle & Glass Publishing.
REDx
This website showcases Tedx-style conversations by members of first nations and settler allies, attempting to shed light on historical and present-day first nations. I particularly like this one because, in addition to sharing first nations perspectives, it also is shared online in a Tedx style that has become familiar to anyone who spends time online: a short, single-camera lecture by one person in front of an audience that then lives online to be shared. The short duration of each video makes them more palatable to online viewers.
Redx Talks https://vimeo.com/redxtalks/videos and facebook https://www.facebook.com/REDxTalks/
A Tribe Called Red
A Tribe Called Red is a Juno-award winning group of artists who mix traditional First Nations music with techno, hip-hop and electronica. They are active on social media platforms, interacting with audiences online and selling music via various online platforms. They are leveraging technology to share a modern iteration of First Nations culture
<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/t-4XlYv-gbs?list=PLtdY2X7SaZq4YG1S8N0IkAh6lDoaw09vO” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>
Open Minds
Open Minds is a collaboration between the Calgary public and catholic school boards and private enterprises. Teachers work collaboratively with facilitators to use community sites as a classroom for a week of place-based learning with the intent that the work will form a year-long project.
Open Minds: http://cbe.ab.ca/ccom/Pages/Home.aspx#ctl00_ctl33_SkipLink
Cree in an App
Many schools with high First Nations populations now offer Cree as a language of choice for students rather than French. This seems to be a logical step in engaging students who have a much closer connection to Cree than they do to French. It’s a way of valuing a culture and allowing students to see themselves reflected in the curriculum. These schools engage aboriginal elders who work in the schools. The Calgary Public Board of Education will be formally taking on initiatives to meet the calls for the recommendations by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In planning for this, Learning Leaders acknowledge that this may lead to a bottleneck in terms of needing aboriginal elders and experts to work in classrooms where demand exceeds the supply. Some tools that may allow classrooms to make first forays into learning include online access to Cree dictionaries and language.
I am interested in the ways first nation cultures live today and how we can share that in our classrooms as we look towards meeting the recommendations of the truth and reconciliation commission.