Category Archives: MODULE 1

Module 1: Post 2 – Wanuskewin

This website through Wanuskewin Heritage Park provides an online learning series titled: Kiskeyihtamowin: Learning Through Experiences. This website (although paid for through my school division) provides Indigenous Ways of knowing relevant to my geographical location that are aligned to my local Saskatchewan curriculum. The resource was developed by elder teaching, archaelogy, and from Indigenous stories and teachings.

Wanuskewin Heritage Park has been a gathering place for many Indigenous Peoples from the Northern Plains just outside of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The park allows people to relive the stories of those who have lived on the land before us.

The website provides educators with opportunities for in-person programming, allowing school children to explore the area’s history prior to pre-contact.

https://wanuskewin.com\

Module 1 (Post 1): Wellness Approach – First Nations Health Authority

I am proud to work in British Columbia where we have become partners and advocates for and with our First Nations communities. A lot of people may not know this, but the First Nations Health Authority exists! it is ‘a health and wellness partner to each and every First Nations person living in BC.’

The FNHA’s mandate is to partner with our First Nations communities in their wellness journeys. The infosketch above identifies that there is a true partnership between the Health Authority and the communities involved and this partnership MEETS the communities in their definition of wellness. The FNHA also provides tools, education and resources and I think this is where educational technology can really be utilized to better the access to care and wellness in a culturally safe manner.

I really appreciate that there is a lot of onus on the individuals in our communities – that being a true partner with all aspects of our communities, we have to ‘live it’ and practice our own definition in wellness – whether it’s in our workplaces, communities, families and so on. This circle of influence extends to communities around us and ultimately we can partner up with First Nations communities to understand and walk with them in their wellness journeys.

I appreciate that the FNHA’s approach is grounded in cultural safety and cultural humility:

Cultural safety is an outcome based on respectful engagement that recognizes and strives to address power imbalances inherent in the health care system. It results in an environment free of racism and discrimination, where people feel safe when receiving health care.

Cultural humility is a process of self-reflection to understand personal and systemic biases and to develop and maintain respectful processes and relationships based on mutual trust. Cultural humility involves humbly acknowledging oneself as a learner when it comes to understanding another’s experience.

I look forward to delving into the resources and tools already available to the FNHA and reflecting on how else educational technology can fill in the gaps.

For more information on the First Nations Health Authority, visit: https://www.fnha.ca/

Module 1 – Post 2 – Did you live near a residential school?

One thing that I have thought about in this module is how local our history is to us. I always find this a challenge when teaching many different subject areas to my grade 6/7 students. They don’t always seem to grasp the concept of time and space quite as easily.

The CBC offers a tool on their website that shows how close you are to a residential school, it also shows the years in which the school was active. When I share this website with my students and share with them how these institutions were still active in my lifetime, it gives them a better concept of time which allows them to understand how long and deep-rooted this practice has been.

Residential School Map

Module 1 – Post 1 – This Place: 150 Years Retold

Throughout this module I have been thinking about resources that have helped me in reimagining the way I go about teaching Indigenous ways of knowing and histories in my classroom. As a settler on these lands, it is important for me to look towards Indigenous voices to bring into the classroom. One of my favourite books that I discovered through Tik Tok is called This Place: 150 Years Retold.

This book is an anthology of very vital stories and histories that is done in a graphic novel style by Indigenous authors and artists. I wanted to share this book because it really brings these stories to life and the images are incredibly powerful.

Here is a review for further information: Book Review.

Indigenous Ways of Knowing Course Design

Module 1 – Blog Post 1

In my search for digital artifacts around Indigenous Instructional Design, I travelled to the University of Calgary’s Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning, where Dr. Gabrielle Lindstrom, Ph.D., and Lorelei Anselmo have authored the guide: Indigenous Ways of Knowing Course Design.

The site addresses WHAT Indigenous ways of knowing are, PRINCIPLES to consider when integrating these practices with your course design, along with the WHYS and HOWS of using them. The webpage has a user-friendly design, featuring drop-down menus to explore specific areas of interest, and a list of further resources to explore.

Of special interest are these sections that focus on our accountability in sharing and integrating Indigenous Ways of Knowing:

Checking back with the community
Giving back to the community
Assessing the quality of Indigenous print and web-based design sources

Though I wish there was a reference to the technology aspect of course design, this resource is a great start in understanding what you can and should do.

Module 1: Post 1 – The Witness Blanket

The first travel I want to highlight is The Witness Blanket. This large art installation contains items that are “reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings and traditional and cultural structures across Canada”. This website allows the user to engage with the witness blanket in ways that are not possible by viewing it in person. “Unless you have the opportunity for someone to share the hundreds of stories that the installation contains.

By exploring the blanket the user can click on the artifacts, view where they came from on the map, and explore the story of the items in-depth from residential school survivors through hearing their stories from videos. The Witness Blanket is about honouring the survivors of residential schools and sharing the truth of our history.

The resource provides further opportunities for educators through provided lessons, and workshop opportunities.

Additionally, there is an application that people can explore as well.

https://witnessblanket.ca/

First Nations Technology Council- M1- Post 2

First Nations Technology Council

“Our work is grounded in the belief that reconciliation and innovation go hand-in-hand, and that a diversity of backgrounds, experiences and world views participating and leading in technology fields will lead to a more prosperous future for all Canadians.”

What do they do?

funded and accredited education programs to advance Indigenous people’s careers in innovation and technology;
participate in and lead community research projects;
create strategies to advance equitable, affordable and sustainable access to technology in Indigenous communities.

Interests:

This website has an article asking: “How can we greatly increase Indigenous participation and leadership in the ICT sector?” I am interested to research this more since I was also interested in knowing more about the role of gender in the ICT sector, and I think these two areas are related.
Another topic which seems interesting to me is Indigenous Digital Equity. “The First Nations Technology Council defines digital equity as a state in which every Indigenous person, community and Nation is fully equipped to access and effectively use technology to contribute, thrive, and succeed in today’s digital society while preserving self-determination.” I would like to research more about this topic as well.

Module 1: Post 1 – What is America?

I read What is America? A Short History of the New World Order, a book by Ronald Wright, over 10 years ago. I recently found this book on my bookshelf; it was one of about 20 books that I kept after getting rid of hundreds of books that used to line my shelves.

I remember it as a short, surprising, and powerful book that I learned a lot from. In fact, it’s full of dog-eared pages and my pencil underlines and notes in the margins. It dispelled two common stereotypes of Indigenous Americans (the author’s term). First, that Indigenous peoples have never over-hunted or over-consumed resources. Dispelling this myth doesn’t – in my opinion – negate the sacred relationship Indigenous peoples have with the land or their status as land- and water-keepers, but gives us a more nuanced, realistic, and pluralistic view of Indigenous peoples. It helps dispell a one-note stereotype. Second, that Indigenous peoples were highly nomadic and had simple social structures. He talks about the many complex, hierarchical, and agrarian peoples that lived in America before it was America. He also discusses how many settlers thought Indigenous peoples were just as smart and capable as anyone else, and the ways in which settlers and Indigenous peoples co-existed for a long time. The book subverts the idea that settlers instinctively thought Indigenous people were savage, and describes how the eradication of Indigenous peoples was actually a lot more purposeful and intentional – driven by greed for the land more than ignorance of Indigenous people’s humanity.

Here is a short review in The Walrus: https://thewalrus.ca/book-review-what-is-america/

Ronald Wright has also written A Short History of Progress, Stolen Continents, and Gold Eaters – all of which feature information about Indigenous peoples in North America.

M1 P1 Language and Indigenous Education

For this module, I looked into articles surrounding the importance of preserving Indigenous languages and how we, as educators, can encourage language retention and engagement within schools. The 5 resources I found were very interesting and provoked some important reflection!

McCarty (2003) ‘s article (https://doi.org/10.1080/03050060302556) focuses on the challenges created by conserving linguistic and cultural diversity among Indigenous groups in the United States. A lot of the challenges seen in the US can be seen here in Canada. The article presents some new approaches to Indigenous school to emphasize Indigenous language, culture and heritage as a way to confront the legacy of colonialism.
Duff and Li (2009)’s article (https://doi.org/10.3138/cmlr.66.1.001) is a look into why and how Canada is committed to encouraging French in education systems, however Indigenous languages are overlooked. It presents a looks into national policies that protect Canada’s two official languages, English and French and what Canada is starting to do in terms of protecting Indigenous languages.
Report on Teaching and Learning First Nations Languages in Different Locations and Locales by the Assembly of First Nations (https://www.afn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/AFN-Archipel_Language-Learning-Report_ENG-1.pdf) : This resource is a fantastic overview into Indigenous language retention, engagement and approaches to teaching Indigenous language in both remote, rural and urban settings.
Khawaja’s (2021) article (https://doi.org/10.3390/soc11030089) explores the consequences and solutions of Indigenous language loss in Canada. What I found particularly interesting is both the exploration into why there has been such a drastic language loss in Indigenous communities in addition to the importance of language reclamation.
Haque (2014)’s article (https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2014.89249) is particularly revelatory exploration of language policy in Canada and the effects of racist systems of power on policy-making.

Module 1: Post 2 – A field of poppies

This brief article caught my attention as I looked for information about collectivism and Indigenous cultures:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/19/indigenous-culture-relies-on-knowledge-sharing-we-need-new-leaders-to-reflect-that

The writing style seems Indigenous to me; it had a slightly different rhythm than I’m used to. I found it oddly soothing. It’s about moving toward an antidote to individualism and competition. About standing tall and proud, while avoiding the pitfalls of the ego. About a rising tide lifting all boats.

The author, Carla McGrath, is part of IndigenousX, an Indigenous owned and run media organization.