Author Archives: greg patton

indigenization-self-reflection-checklist

An amazing resource, this checklist was compiled by The College of New Caledonia for its teachers so that they can be mindful of how they are teaching to their students.  After the heading “Does my course…”, it is broken down into 3 subheadings:

1. include Indigenous content?
2. honour Indigenous learners?
3. foster greater Indigenous understanding?

Now, I’m not here to say that a one sided piece of paper can single handedly change Teachers’ styles, but it does give a good discussion point on if staff are starting to move towards these goals and how administration can help make these goals more attainable.

https://bccampus.ca/projects/indigenization/indigenization-guides/

“These guides are the result of the Indigenization Project, a collaboration between BCcampus and the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. The project was supported by a steering committee of Indigenous education leaders from BC universities, colleges, and institutes, the First Nations Education Steering Committee, the Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association, and Métis Nation BC.”  https://bccampus.ca/projects/indigenization/indigenization-guides/

Though these guides were made to support systemic change in post-secondary institutions, a lot of the information could be used in a secondary school setting.  They are meant to help readers:

• increase your awareness of Indigenous People, our histories, decolonization, and reconciliation
• enhance your knowledge of how Indigenous history and realities in Canada affect relationships and how this may influence how you work with Indigenous people and colleagues in post-secondary education      (https://opentextbc.ca/indigenizationfoundations/front-matter/foundations-guide-overview/)

This isn’t a definitive guide, but more of a jumping off point in changing the way we look at our institutions, staff, and students and how we can make sure everyone has a voice.

https://newwestschools.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Board-Name-Presentation.pdf?utm_source=new%20west%20record&utm_campaign=new%20west%20record&utm_medium=referralLinks to an external site. 

This is a presentation done to the New Westminster School Board in regards to the re-naming of an elementary school, Richard McBride, that is in the midst of being replaced with a new facility.  Our district has noticed that it is time to stop honouring the colonists of the past and recognize where are schools are actually located (though they left New Westminster Secondary with the same name).

I really do like our District’s strategic plan around school naming:

 COMMITMENT TO RECONCILIATION AND DECOLONIZATION OF THE
DISTRICT’S PHYSICAL STRUCTURES

 MEANINGFUL AND REFLECTIVE OF LOCAL HISTORIC EVENTS AND
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AREA

 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SCHOOL BUILDING AND THE LAND ON
WHICH IT IS LOCATED

 PLACE BASED NAMES THAT HONOUR INDIGENOUS HISTORY AND ARE
REFLECTIVE OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE APPROPRIATE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

I also like how everything was done with consultation of The Qayqayt First Nation and Language Keepers.

In reflecting on how to authentically indigenize , I know that I want to keep in mind the District I work in beliefs and values and make sure my work is aligned with them.

Home

I have driven up to Squamish and Whistler multiple times and my kids always ask how to say the traditional names that are posted along Highway 99.  While we were searching through sites on pronunciation, we came across this site (actually linked in the SORCA from my previous post too!).  It shows you traditional names for various spots in the Squamish Nation and has an option for you to hear their pronunciations.

Moving forward, sites like this would be a vital educational source to help students recognize the lands that they are on have a history before when colonists came and gave it European names.  To view the actual content, you need to put in your email address.  As the information on the website is for personal use and not to be used for educational purposes without permission from Kwi Awt Stelmexw (KAS Cultural Society), I have given the link to where to sign in.

https://sorca.ca/squamish-nation

SORCA is the Squamish Off Road Cycling Association and they build and maintain biking trails throughout the Squamish area.  As I move forward with looking at how to authentically indigenize education, I thought that this association has done a great job with the territory recognition of  Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw.  This goes so far above the usual land recognition seen; I am especially impressed with their Squamish Nation Youth Mountain Bike Program.

As we continue to use the traditional lands of Indigenous Nations around us, I think that moving away from just territorial recognition to  including historical education and actual inclusion of the Nation in the land usage will be a fundamental step in reconciliation.

Red: A Haida Manga is a graphic novel written by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas.  He is a Haida visual artist, author, and public speaker.  Yahgulanaas also was an elected Chief Councillor of the Old Massett Village Council and a member of the Council of the Haida Nation.  The story is about a brother and sister who live in a village on the west coast of Haida Gwaii.  One night, the sister is taken by pirates.

“Haida Manga blends North Pacific Indigenous iconographies and framelines with the graphic dynamism of Asian manga.” https://mny.ca/en/biography

This is another example of the meshing of two different cultural forms while not letting the beliefs of one expirate the traditions of the other.  It’s also a very amazing book for all ages!

http://haidagwaiimuseum.ca/

I feel lucky that I was able to visit this museum in person (as I relayed in a previous post, my mom moved from Edmonton to Sandspit in Haida Gwaii) and myself and my family still cherish the time we had there.  Again, this is another great example of Indigenous culture adapting technology from the settler culture.  Museums are a western invention where historical artifacts are displayed, usually out of context, for educational purposes.  The Haida Gwaii Museum governs its facility with a different type of framework:

“The underlying theme running through all permanent exhibitions is the complex link between the land, the sea, human beings and the Supernatural Beings that give Haida Gwaii its incomparable natural and cultural character. Every object, art work and archeological piece offers a narrative focusing on its aesthetics, construct, cultural use, and history as derived from our focus on community-based research.” http://haidagwaiimuseum.ca/

It challenges itself to keep aware of its cultures belief in the land and its narrative traditions while still being educational.  It’s an exemplary museum.

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/476-pieces

I live in South Surrey (South Surreyians call it that to distinguish it from Surrey and because we know that anyone from White Rock who hears someone who lives above 16th Ave. say they are from White Rock will call them out on their lie) and work in New Westminster so I do have a relatively good sized commute.   It is during this time that I have taken a liking to listening to podcasts.

Pieces is a CBC podcast by 19 year-old Jeremy Ratt.  Jeremy is of mixed heritage, indigenous and white, and the podcast is about him exploring his ancestry and how it influences his life today.  This podcast is another great example of the adaptation of technology by Indigenous culture.   His talks with his mother about his past are very thought-provoking; the idea of being poor and not knowing it raised questions with both my kids when we were listening to this in our vehicle.  It made them stop and think about the advantages they have because of our affluence and culture; not always an easy subject with a 11 and 14 year old.

https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/norval-morrisseau/biography/

I was first introduced to paintings of the indigenous canadian artist Norval Morrisseau when I was living in Nanaimo.  A professor at Vancouver Island University (though it was Malaspina College back in my day…) showed our class some different pieces as examples of ways that parts of a culture adapts to the surrounding cultures that influence it.  Two days later, at my job as an optican in an Optometrist office, a gentleman came in and asked if I could put this new prescription into an old pair of glasses.  The Name on the prescription was Norval Morrisseau (no, the guy standing in front of me wasn’t him; just a friend).  I stared for a second at the piece of paper and said, “I just studied about him in my anthropology class.”  The gentleman smiled and asked if I could take care of the glasses… which I did.

I believe that Morrisseau’s works are a fantastic example of Indigenous cultures adapting to other cultures and technology.  He was highly influenced by the art of surrounding cultures, incorporating some aspects of it, but never forgets his own cultural traditions.  I especially love his use of such vibrant palette; colours that were not used in traditional indigenous art.  Yet he never loses touch with his connection to the land or his history; there are always aspects there in his works.

His friend picked up the  finished glasseshim, so I never met Morrisseau, but I have always felt a connection with him and his paintings… and that’s my brush with fame.

My mom moved from Edmonton to Sandspit in Haida Gwaii (that is a story unto itself).  Before myself and my family went to visit, I wanted everyone to know something about the history of where we were going and I chose this book for all of us to read.  This fictionalized retelling of first contact for the Haida Nation and it’s subsequent fall to near extinction was written by Christine Harris, a canadian writer who worked with cultural anthropologist Wilson Duff and Haida ancestors to make sure the work was ethnographically accurate.

My family found this book so readable and I was surprised about how much information my daughter and son remembered; especially when we went to the Skidegate Museum.  It also gave them a first hand look at what first contact did to Indigenous Nations, not only in Haida Gwaii but across the continent.