https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=193419515986190
I shared this video in my initial research proposal post, but I thought it deserved its own blog post because it’s the embodiment of what my research question aims to achieve.
How can Indigenous education become more relevant and reflexive for Canadian immigrant populations?
Immigrant Canadians may feel a sense of apathy and disconnect from Indigenous populations because of their lack of historical contact, but culturally they may find many similarities. In the video above, we can see how similar the two dances are, and there is a sense of an instant connection through their dancing. I believe that a focus on these cultural similarities is an ignored aspect of the curriculum, because there are currently two main focuses in Indigenous education right now. These are learning about atrocities committed by white Canadians, and about integrating Indigenous knowledge and values within Canadian society. These themselves are not enough to immediately inspire immigrant support, especially because Canada has such a wide variety of ethnic groups who may feel as though their own values aren’t supported by the curriculum at all.
I am looking into how Indigenous education can be taught on a more individual level, so that students can learn and relate based on their own experiences.