M1 P1 – First Peoples Principles of Learning

Hello everyone,

My first blog resource post is providing the link to the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) that outlines the principles used to transfer knowledge and learning in Indigenous communities. These principles provide a clear example of the guidelines educators can follow to share Indigenous knowledge. If you compare this to our BC Curriculum, you will notice the difference right away between the BC Curriculum focus on content (ex. Facts and information) while the FPPL focuses on ways of learning. 

In 2015, changes made to the BC Curriculum are beginning to reflect the “process based” learning similar to FPPL. This includes focusing on competencies and skills including problem solving, building on others ideas, asking questions and creating new solutions.

One of the key principles that is important, and sometimes hard for a settler to understand, is that some knowledge is sacred and has certain protocols for sharing that information. To build on that, I have learnt it is not only knowledge, but some stories, ceremonies, physical artifacts and other items that are sacred as well. 

*Please note all Indigenous communities are diverse and may have different terminology or different takes on each of these principles*

Link: http://www.fnesc.ca/first-peoples-principles-of-learning/