Tag Archives: Aboriginal

Module 4 post 2: Aboriginal family structure

Leave a reply

Another source of information that can really expand our horizons in regard to the aboriginal rich and unique culture is an official website run by aboriginal themselves: http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_nwc1.html

The information given here is not just statistical but also an objective and vivid interpretation of factual accounts in the history of the aboriginal families residing in the west coast of British Columbia. Whether the site covers the aboriginal people in the west, middle or east sides of Canada, I think the similarities among the aboriginal tribes are more than the differences.  This is a fact that all educators should know. This is helpful because education designers are inclined towards making a unified educational system that can cater for the aboriginal learners. If we compare between two tribes from two different places in Canada we will see how close they are in terms of traditions and customs.

What I like about the above-mentioned website is the layout of the material and the selection of the topics discussed in it. One of the topics that I found appealing is the one about family structure. It gives concise and informative information about the customs and people in general.

I am sure you will like it. By the way the topics are put in the lower part of the page. To access them you need to scroll down.

Hussain

Entry 12 : Native Public Media

Leave a reply

Native Public Media  reports that  “radio is a lifeline for emergencies, tribal languages, health and economics news, and electoral participation across the Indian Country.”   This site which promotes the radio station, with the “only on-air Native language programming helping to keep tribal languages and cultures alive and strong. ”  I believe this is an interesting idea, in a time when many push social  visual media (TV) as a way of maintaining aboriginal languages.  

Radio does allow the listener to concentrate on the words in order to grasp the meaning. Therefore in may very well be a more effective method of retaining a language.  However it is important to rememeber that ther is more to a cultural language than merely sounds.  The non-verbal aspects of language may  be missed through radio. Blogs and other events in the US serve to fortify the Native Public Media’s mission to:  “promote healthy, engaged and independent Native Communities through media access, control and ownership.” 

Feel free to visit or listen.

link:   http://www.nativepublicmedia.org

Mod 3:5 Fatty Legs

Leave a reply

Fatty Legs: A True Story is a chapter book geared at middle years students. It is about the experience of one girl at a northern residential school. This book has been used by teachers at my school and in my division to introduce the topic of residential schools. The students have all enjoyed the novel and come out with good discussions.

Mod 3:4 Saskstories.ca

Leave a reply

In grade four, students across Canada learn about their home province. Saskstories.ca is a website geared towards grade four students in Saskatchewan. It is about the history of Saskatchewan and it has excellent information about First Nations peoples and settlers of this province. The information is well balanced and user friendly. I have used this website with students for the past five years and it is always well-liked by the kids. We always have good discussions about the stories they read on the website. My only potential complaint is the lack of information of First Nations people today on the website however it is not meant to be comprehensive and the information it has is excellent.

Entry 11 : Remembering an Aboriginal war hero

Leave a reply

I felt it was an appropriate time, during Remembrance, to show how technology, and the media, can be used to honour Aboriginal accomplishment.  Too often, great people are forgotten or not recognized, due to the colour of their skin or their ethnical background. (I am not saying this is the case with Tommy Prince).  But I’m certain there are many other native heros that have not be recognized.

I have shown the Canadian Military Heritage minutes previously to my students, with discussions on where soldiers originate.  Here is the vignette on Tommy Prince.   I have just found a second Youtube video, Tommy Prince: Canadian Hero at War,  which offers more infrmation on Tommy Prince’s exploits.  Together they make a great discussion and informational piece.

 

Module 3 – Post 5 – Traditional vs Scientific Knowledge

Leave a reply

The question of what is traditional knowledge and how does it interface with scientific knowledge is a very intriguing question. In understanding these issues better it is necessary to try to put aside assumptions that you all harbor and attempt to look at the issues involved with a an unbiased focus. This fascinating lecture/discussion by Elaine Abraham (Tlingit Elder) and Gordon Orians (U. of Washington) go a long way in trying to explain and bring these ideas together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgfH77HvaHQ

This discussion focuses on ecological management in the Pacific Northwest and in doing so shows the similarities and differences between both methods of looking at the natural world.

Module 3 – Post 4 – Language and Interface

Leave a reply

One question that may have come to minds of those examining technology and Indigenous education is the language barrier. Do the tools that are used to facilitate contemporary online interaction restricted in their ability to interface with traditional languages?

http://www.cs.waikato.ac.nz/~tetaka/PDF/IndigELearn.pdf

This very interesting paper from New Zealand documents the adaptation of interfaces towards Maori language. This paper outlines some of the fundamental challenges that need to be overcome in any such adaptation. Some basic ideas that are assumed to be ‘universal’ in fact do not have a role within traditional indigenous cultures and needed to be considered in any redesigned technology interface.

Module 3 – Post 3 – Transforming the Teacher

Leave a reply

As we examine the roll of traditional knowledge, the role of the elder/teacher plays a special significance. Such an individual represents a connection not only with knowledge but with history, the land, culture, and the future. Can non-Indigenous people learn from this understanding?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMfBeotD8gc

In this TEDTalks, Chris Gamer explores the way Indigenous knowledge (Australian) can be used to redefine what we consider success in education. The educator becomes something more than only a teacher.

Module 3 – Post 2 – A Game of Languages

Leave a reply

This very intriguing online tool allows young children to explore the Indigenous languages of North America through a series of activities.

http://www.firstvoiceskids.com/

There are a very large amount of languages that can be explored and user’s are able to hear and interact with a variety of objects, numbers, and phrases. A very good resource for anyone who wishes to expose children to a more playful way of learning these ancient languages through a variety of interactive means.

Module 3 – Post 1 – Woven Together

Leave a reply

Traditional knowledge has always had a strong oral and interpersonal component. As I work in the interactive field, I am always searching for good examples of knowledge that has been transcribed into a more interactive format. This online course on the basket creation traditions and language of the Pacific North West is an interesting attempt at bringing together traditional knowledge with online interaction:

http://nmai.si.edu/education/woventogether/

This is a US based tool, funded by the Smithsonian. Its an interesting way to scratch the surface of some traditional knowledge and language.