Tag Archives: Indigenous

M2 P1 Indigenous Digital Skills Training Program Which Teaches Kids How to Bring Indigenous Cultural Knowledge, History and Language to Life Through Augmented Reality, Minecraft and Python Coding

I find this idea of a training program that enables Indigenous and non-Indigenous kids to connect with and learn from elders about cultural knowledge, history and language, while learning digital skills in technologies like augmented reality, animation and coding to be fascinating. I see this as a potential to not only teach children valuable digital skills while simultaneously learning from elders about Indigenous culture, history and language, but also as a way to build up XR language learning content that could help teach learners down the road. For example, I attended a Secwepemc language immersion school called Chief Atahm School and if a training program like this was included in the curriculum, the students could be contributing to Secwépemc language learning content while also gaining valuable skills that can help them in a growing area of employment. Some of the students that go through the training program and have learned Secwepemctsin at Chief Atahm School would have the skills to continue to work in language revitalization using XR technology after they have graduated high school.  This could be part of creating the infrastructure to develop the required skills and talent to produce XR language learning content to help preserve and revitalize Secwépemc language and culture.

 

https://indigitalschools.com/impact/

Jessica Presta: Module 2, Post 2

During my research for my final project, I came across this website that offers a few resources related to equity, diversity and inclusion in health. This website is robust in its resources, including but not limited to: journal articles, open access databases, report from the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, a collection of Indigenous health related digital artifacts, links to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report, and links to the UN declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Jessica Presta: Module 2, Post 1

As per Professor Hardman’s suggestion, I read through the In Plain Sight report as a starting place from which to launch my research from for the final project. This report was very challenging to read at times and caused me to feel a sorrow and heartache I was not expecting. The stories told by survey participants were wrought with racism and prejudice. Indigenous specific racism in healthcare across BC is indisputable. The IPS report summarized their findings into 11 categories:

  1. Widespread Indigenous-specific stereotyping, racism and discrimination exist in the B.C. health care system.
  2. Racism limits access to medical treatment and negatively affects the health and wellness of Indigenous peoples in B.C.
  3. Indigenous women and girls are disproportionately impacted by Indigenous-specific racism in the health care system.
  4. Current public health emergencies magnify racism and vulnerabilities, and disproportionately impact Indigenous peoples.
  5. Indigenous health care workers face racism and discrimination in their work environments.
  6. Current education and training programs are inadequate to address Indigenous-specific racism in health care.
  7. Complaints processes in the health care system do not work well for Indigenous peoples.
  8. Indigenous health practices and knowledge are not integrated into the health care system in a meaningful and consistent way.
  9. There is insufficient hard-wiring of Indigenous cultural safety throughout the B.C. health care system.
  10. Indigenous roles in health leadership and decision making – both through Indigenous health governance structures and the health care system as a whole – need to be strengthened.
  11. There is no accountability for eliminating all forms of Indigenous-specific racism in the B.C. health care system, including complaints, system-wide data, quality improvement and assurance, and monitoring of progress.

 

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:
Learn about decolonizing your course materials and teaching practices:

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

Jessica Presta: Module 1, Post 2

For my second blog post, I wanted to share some of the small ways I try and incorporate Indigenous voices and representation in my daily life. Through the use of digital technologies and the advent of social media, I am able to expose and connect myself to Indigenous content creators, and they, are able to create content and share to a worldwide audience.

One content creator I love and follow is Cree, James Jones, and goes by the name Notorious Cree. He shares his journey of reconnecting with his own culture through traditional dance and uses his platform to encourage others to do the same and to find pride in who they are. James Jones has found a way to connect with his audience through orality, using videos which are educational, and include teachings about his dance and his culture. To view his works, click here.

Another content creator who I enjoy following to learn about their culture is Shina Novalinga. She is Inuk and is known for her TikTok videos where she throat sings with her mom as well as her activism. Her content ranges from educational material about Inuit culture to some of the challenges people in her community and other northern Indigenous communities face. To view her works, click here.

I genuinely feel that social media is in the hands of the creator, giving them a platform from which they can tell their stories without the (colonial) influence of others. Both of these content creators have over 3.5 million followers, thus their reach is far. They control their stories and how they want to share their culture with the world, empowering themselves, breaking stereotypes and showcasing the diversity among Indigenous people across North America.

Jessica Presta: Module 1, Post 1

For my first blog post in Module 1, I decided to share a resource that has been impactful on my journey towards truth and reconciliation and decolonization. This is Len Pierre. He is the founder of Len Pierre Consulting and with his team, offers consulting, education and training, and guest speaker services. I have had the privilege of attending two of his seminars now, once as a nurse (with approximately 300 attendees) and once as a faculty member at British Columbia Institute of Technology. If anyone is looking to host a guest speaker for their organization to address anti-racism, Indigenous cultural safety, reconciliation and decolonization, I highly recommend reaching out to Len and his team. His ability to share knowledge related to these topics in a vulnerable  and transparent way is remarkable. You can visit his website here.

After attending my first seminar with Len, I followed him on LinkedIn and visited his website to discover what other resources are available to me. He has a few videos on his website from other events he spoke at, such as TEDxSFU which I recommend watching. In one of the seminars I attended, he spoke about the intentionality of the Canadian government in othering Indigenous tribes across Canada, the intentionality behind making them appear as savages who are not willing to become ‘civilized’ by adopting a colonial culture and some of the harmful stereotypes that developed as a result of this. As he discussed this and other tactics intended to oppress Indigenous people, I reflected on growing up in small communities of BC and how these stereotypes were perpetuated by the adults around me. This was evident in the way they were openly racist towards Indigenous people, repeating the same rhetoric used to oppress them, and I realized how this impacted my beliefs and how it gave me a deeper understanding of where these learned biases came from. I will never forget this moment and the impact it had on me and my ability to decolonize further.

SIKU (Sea Ice) – The Indigenous Knowledge Social Network

Module 1 – Post 5

For my last post, I wanted to explore a digital tool being developed and used by Inuit communities. The Arctic Elder Society has produced a social network application with the guiding principles of:

  • Respect
  • Self-determination
  • Intellectual Property
  • Integrity

It combines Inuktuk information and tools for knowledge sharing, mapping, and preserving languages. They also focus on privacy and data sovereignty. One of the most interesting features is the SIKU Ice Profiles page, there are photos, descriptions, and terms in various Inuktut dialects.

Learn more about the app here: https://siku.org/about