Author Archives: chaul19

Module 2, Entry 5

Native Lens is a program that provides filmmaking workshops and programs for Native American youth. In this video, Tracey Rector discusses how the program provides opportunities for at risk youth to make positive contributions to their communities through digital storytelling where they can create and share their own personal stories and narratives. The program provides practical, hands on experiences, and provides youth with opportunities to engage with others within the community and to learn about the importance of their roles as stewards for Indigenous culture.

You can learn more about the Native Lens program and watch the stories on their website:

https://www.rmpbs.org/nativelens/#Stories

Module 2, Entry 4

IsumaTV is an online platform created for Indigenous filmmakers and media organizations where users can create and design their own online spaces or “channels” to showcase and host their content.  Users can upload various forms of content including audio, video, images, and text. The platform contains an impressive collection of over 6000 videos in more than 80 languages.

The IsumaTV project also provides IsumaTV media players to remote communities all over the word, allowing users to access the media on IsumaTV from their communities.

Here’s the link to their site:

http://www.isuma.tv/about-us

I recommend checking out the channel: Stories of Our Elders.  I really loved the animations!

http://www.isuma.tv/stories-of-our-elders-en

Module 2, Entry 3

Voices of Amiskwaciy is an online space where communities can create, share and discover local Indigenous content. The project is an initiative developed by the Edmonton Public Library and was created in collaboration with Indigenous communities in Edmonton to promote and preserve Indigenous storytelling and oral traditions. On the platform, individuals and communities can upload and share a variety of content including text, images, video, and audio.

The Edmonton Public library also provides a digital storytelling kit for free which individuals can borrow and includes multimedia recording equipment and resources on oral storytelling.

Click on the link below to learn more about the project:

https://voicesofamiskwaciy.ca/

Module 2, Entry 2

Our World is an organization which partners with remote Indigenous communities to provide workshops and media arts training which focus on film/media making and digital storytelling.  To date, the organization has helped to create over 200 films which share the personal experiences and traditional stories from Indigenous, Metis, and Inuit youth and Elders across Canada. Films range in themes from traditional stories, residential school impacts, Indigenous stereotypes, celebrations of culture, and multigenerational lessons from the past.

Many of their films can be viewed on their website for free as well!

Here’s the link to their site:

https://www.ourworldlanguage.ca/

Module 2, Entry 1

I came across  Indigital which is a really neat mobile app that uses augmented reality for Indigenous cultural storytelling. Through collaboration with over 300 elders from across the world, Indigital aims to connect both youth and adults to traditional Indigenous stories and knowledge using mobile devices. The app works by scanning cards printed with art inspired by traditional Indigenous bark and ochre paintings. Once scanned, the artwork comes to life through a 3D animated story!

Module 1, Entry 5

I found a great Ted Talk delivered by Michael Mieni who is the first-ever Indigenous IT honors student at the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia. His talk spoke to the need and opportunity to break the ‘digital divide’ in Indigenous communities and discusses how improving access to IT resources and training to Indigenous youth can help to increase social and economic opportunities for Indigenous youth and their communities.

From using technologies for language preservation to using drone technologies to map out sacred lands, Michael describes great possibilities and opportunities for a future that bridges the digital divide.

Module 1, Entry 4

In this TED talk, linguist Lindsay Morcom explores the importance of Indigenous languages within Indigenous communities, why they are at risk of being lost, as well as what we can do as a community to help support the revitalization of Indigenous languages.  Morcom explores the Canadian historical contexts which led to the destruction of Indigenous languages, and describes what is needed in terms of policy, education, and support which can help to ensure the survival of Indigenous languages for future generations. Strategies include partnering with school boards to offer more formal and informal learning opportunities for Aboriginal youth which promote Indigenous  languages and culture,  active policies to ensure languages are incorporated into education both on and off reserve, as well as creating supportive spaces where Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities can come together to learn more about Indigenous cultures and to open up discourse about the importance of Indigenous languages.

Module 1, Entry 3

In my research on how technology can help to preserve endangered Indigenous languages, I came across FirstVoices, which is a set of opensource software created to record, promote, and preserve Indigenous languages and oral culture. The project is an initiative of the First People’s Cultural Council (FPCC) whose mission is to assist B.C. First Nations in revitalizing indigenous languages, arts and cultures.

The FirstVoices project allows indigenous communities to document their language for future generations. The site is an excellent resource which offers international online indigenous language archiving and teaching resources.  Through the creation of unique ‘community sites’ member groups help to preserve and promote the diversity of Indigenous languages and culture. For each community site,  Elders and youth can upload dictionaries, alphabets, songs, sacred prayers, stories, words, and phrases though mediums such as  audio and video to their community archives.  In addition to making such resources available to the public, the site also allows for members to create content that are only available to select users and to their communities, such as sacred prayers, dances, and stories.

Here’s the link to FirstVoices: https://www.firstvoices.com/home

Projects under FirstVoices include: 

FirstVoices Kids  – Which includes interactive online games and access to various beginner level language resources for pre-readers.

FirstVoices Dictionary Apps– Mobile apps which include interactive dictionary/phrases in several of B.C.’s Indigenous languages.

FirstVoices Keyboards– This keyboard software contains over 100 languages and includes every First Nations language in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, as well as other languages in the US.

Module 1, Entry 2

I came across an excellent guide from the BC Ministry of Education:  Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspective in the Classroom which provides strategies for educators on how to improve school success for Aboriginal students. The guide provides information and guidelines on how to incorporate Aboriginal perspectives into educational curricula in a meaningful and authentic manner.

Click on the link below to view the guide:

Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspective in the Classroom

Module 1, Entry 1

Walking Together: First Nations, Metis and Inuit Perspectives in Curriculum is a digital professional development resource for educators. The resource was designed to share the holistic nature of First Nations, Métis and Inuit ways of knowing, and perspectives in teaching and learning experiences. The project provides an opportunity to share perspectives on topics raised in consultations with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, and includes presentations and videos on topics such as Indigenous pedagogy, Aboriginal and treaty rights, oral traditions, traditional environmental knowledge, and much more.

Click on the link below to view:

Walking Together: First Nations, Metis and Inuit Perspectives in Curriculum

In addition, the Talking Together: A Discussion Guide for Walking Together digital guide provides ideas and resources for educators and community members to explore the resources in groups or individually. Sample workshops and activities are provided.

Here’s the link to the guide:

Talking Together: A Discussion Guide for Walking Together