Tag Archives: Indigenous Research

Barriers to Implementation – M2 P5

As part of my final research project, I have decided to look into some of the barriers of implantation for white settler educators when it comes to discussing Indigenous ways of knowing, perspectives and experiences in the classroom. As a starting point, I created a Google Form and sent it to the staff at my school as well as a few previous colleagues. I thought I would share some of my findings here as they may lead to different reflection points for each of us:

Don’t have enough knowledge to speak or teach about certain aspects
Worry that it is inappropriate to teach certain things
Specifically about high school Math: limited PD and research around the subject as Canada is limited to colonizer/European Math
Using appropriate language at a receptive level when teaching younger students
Lack of Indigenous content outcomes in Program of Studies and having to teach to ensure success on government exams
Students can get defensive and feel guilty about being a settler themselves
Not enough confidence and lack of understanding.

Do some of these resonate?

Jessica Presta: Module 1, Post 5

For my final post in Module 1, I wanted to discuss the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). The FNHA emerged as a health governance structure in BC in an attempt to improve First Nation’s health outcomes and close the gaps that exist between BC First Nations and the rest of the population. The FNHA is a first in Canada and is a province wide health authority that “plans, designs, manages and funds the delivery of First Nations health programs and services in BC” (First Nations Health Authority, 2022). One of the resources on their website I am most interested in is their Cultural Safety and Humility Framework. This infographic is highly detailed and outlines the many steps required for a transformative healthcare system that is culturally safe for Indigenous people.

References

First Nations Health Authority (2022, October, 10). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Nations_Health_Authority

Jessica Presta: Module 1, Post 4

For this post I wanted to share a resource for educators to support the indigenization of their programs, classrooms, and pedagogical practices. BC Campus is an online resource that aims to support the evolution of education across the province through collaboration, communication and innovation. One of their resources for this is their Indigenization project. The goal of this project is to offer open resources to educators to support the incorporation of Indigenous epistemologies into their practice, systematically decolonizing post-secondary education. Some of these resources include:

Learn about Indigenous histories in Canada:

Actions for teaching: Engage and collaborate with Indigenous peoples, knowledges, and cultures in your course design and curriculum.
Sign up to take Indigenous Canada, a Massive Open Online Course from the University of Alberta.
Read: Indigenous History Month Reading List from Massey Books
Indigenous Ally Toolkit, compiled by Dakota Swiftwolfe and others from the Montreal Indigenous Community Network

Learn about decolonizing your course materials and teaching practices:

Actions for teaching: Learn and integrate First Peoples Principles of Learning into your work as a designer and facilitator of learning experiences for all students.
The BCcampus Pulling Together Indigenization guides include a foundations guide as well as guides for teachers, leaders and administrators, front-line staff, curriculum developers, and researchers.
Indigenous Pedagogy: Decolonizing Higher Education resource from Vancouver Community College
Consider adopting one or more of these 100 Ways: Indigenizing & Decolonizing Academic Programs.

Jessica Presta: Module 1, Post 3

I wanted to draw attention to the First Nations in BC Knowledge Network’s website. This network was put together with the goal of facilitating networking and knowledge sharing among First Nations communities, individuals, and organizations within the province. A platform like this has the power to bring ideas and resources together to support the rebuilding and growing of Nations. Within the site there is a robust directory of BC First Nations services, Indian Bands as well as resources available to the Indigenous people of BC.

References

First Nations Technology Council (n.d.) First nations in bc knowledge network: A space to exchange information between first nations communities. https://firstnationsbc.ca/about-us

Yellowhead Institute – M1 P3

Yellowhead Institute is an Indigenous-led research and education centre. They offer resources surrounding many topics some of which include the 94 Calls to Action, reclaiming Indigenous governance of culture and heritage, climate action and treaty rights and title. The research they are conducting and resources they are producing are critical voices for educators to listen to when discussing reconciliation and Indigenous perspectives in the classroom. They also have a Youtube channel which can be useful if you prefer to learn through audio or visual as opposed to reading articles.

Website: https://yellowheadinstitute.org/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/YellowheadInstitute