I found the Weaving Ways resource online while researching for ways in which teachers can implement Indigenous knowledge into their classrooms. It was created by the Alberta Professional Development Consortium alongside the Calgary Board of Education and Elder Bruce Starlight of the Tsuut’ina Nation here in Alberta. Though I was aware of the importance of the circle in Indigenous cultures, the symbolism came up again through this resource. It made me reflect on how often I allow my students to be in a circle formation in my own classroom as one of the guiding questions in this resource is, “How can I draw from the ways Indigenous peoples foster cultures of belonging to compliment the ways I create belonging in my classroom?” This resource focuses on 4 main “quadrants” that are all meant to be inter-connected:
- Cultures of Belonging
- Instructional Design
- Pedagogy
- Sharing Through Story
They are presented in a circle formation to enforce this idea of inter-connectedness.
