Hello everyone!
My name is Kim Bellwood. I have just set up my first blog ever. Slowly I am starting to understand the technical lingo, for example: blog, vlog, hyperlink, and tons more! From what I have read about this course, and watching Erika’s vlog, I believe this course will strengthen our ability to think critically about the stories we have been told, the ones we haven’t been told (and why), and the stories we hope for in our future (Canadians in particular).
I grew up in British Columbia, and started in college in 1987 taking classes toward my Education degree. I ended up finishing my Bachelor of Education (two years) at the University of Saskatchewan. I convocated in 2002, taught for three years in Saskatchewan, and I am currently in my eleventh year teaching in British Columbia. I tell you this to explain a huge difference I noticed between the two province’s curricula.
In Saskatchewan it was mandatory to take three credits in Native Studies. Without this, one cannot complete an Education Degree (this was 16 years ago and still is required). The only course the university offered was six credits, so I took a full year course exploring First Nation’s people in Canada. When I started teaching, Aboriginal information was embedded throughout the curriculum. This link I am highlighting is from the Saskatoon school board and states that Indigineous awareness and education has been a part of Saskatchewan schooling for over thirty years.
I had never learned so much about Aboriginal people as I did learning and teaching in Saskatchewan. As a matter of fact, I do not remember ever learning about indigenous people while going through all my twelve plus years of schooling in British Columbia.
When I moved back to British Columbia in 2006 and started teaching high school English and Social Studies, I was surprised to learn how little information was taught and how little students knew about the Native people of Canada.
Last year, in (2015) British Columbia announced a new curriculum which has a tremendous increase of focus on First Nation’s people. Here is an article from the Globe and Mail addressing BC’s changes.
It is vital that indigenous people’s stories be told in Canadian history. As in the timeline seen above, for too long Native Canadians have been largely left out of the Canadian story. I am sure this course will provoke me to understand and think about Canadian literature with a broadened mindset.
Canadian History Events Timeline.britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/.a/6a00d8341c464853ef017d42b6dc54970c-400wi.
Dirk Meissner. New BC Curriculum will have Aboriginal Focus. The Canadian Press, 17 Jun. 2015, www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/new-bc-school-curriculum-will-have-aboriginal-focus/article25003962/. Accessed 12 Sep. 2016.
Why do we include First Nations and Metis Content and Perspectives? Saskatoon Public Schools, 04 Jan. 2013, schools.spsd.sk.ca/curriculum/blog/2013/01/04/why-do-we-include-first-nations-and-metis-content-and-perspectives/. Accessed 12 September 2016.
Hi Kim!
Nice post! Thats really surprising to hear about the differences between both provinces, with regards to education on Indigenous histories. Though it is sad, it is true that many Canadian students are unaware of the oppression, discrimination, and lack of representation for the Indigenous peoples. I, myself, did not fully learn about the affects of residential schools, and the pain that such discrimination has caused until I was out of the public school system! It is an unfortunate reality that many students aren’t being taught the full story of Canadian history, and are moreover not being fully exposed to the experiences and stories of the Indigenous peoples of Canada.
Being that you have been teaching in BC for several years before the required curriculum update in 2015, did you implement Indigenous history from what you had learned in Saskatchewan into your own classroom? What, from your understanding, was most overlooked about the education of Indigenous history and culture? It is curious to me why it has taken to long to update the BC curriculum, and perhaps why the federal government haven’t stepped in to set a nationwide standard of Indigenous history within the classroom.
Hi Hannah,
We have had liaison’s in the BC’s schools, but in my knowledge they were there more to support Indigineous students. Now, in my district the liaisons are there to help educate everyone, as well as be supportive to Aboriginal children in public schooling. I remember when I first started teaching in BC talking to a grade 11 class about residential schools and some history. They wanted nothing to do with it. They were angry and resentful because the First Nations people are often given many benefits. I worked hard to convince them to at least be open to the truth of the whole story; I brought in a speaker, I gave them information and challenged them to at least be educated with some perspective of the indigineous’ people’s side. It was pretty intense. A few years later I wrote a play for my grade 4/5 class to better help them understand the story of Native Canadians. Truth sets us free.
Thank you for your response. Kim
I’m not surprised to hear that you didn’t learn too much about First Nations history during your time in school. I think the danger of telling a single story has led to Canadian ignorance on First Nations issues. The white/colonizer narrative has impacted the way we tell our stories as Canadians and how we teach them in the classroom. I’m 21, and I remember learning about Aboriginal culture (mostly art and Creation stories), but it wasn’t until I was in grade 12 that I gained a full understanding of the darker aspects of our history with First Nations in Canada. And that class was an elective! I’m glad that residential school education is being introduced into classrooms at an earlier age. The Canadian story as you call it, is not complete without diverse voices. Great post!
Hi Marissa,
Thank you! I should be careful not to generalize too much though…I am only one person’s experience…
Cheers, Kim
He Kimberly – welcome to our course of studies together. Your blog looks good, a most interesting introduction with some excellent hyperlinks, thank you. I was please to read your comments on Jenny’s first post.
Thank you, Erika.
Hi Erika,
I did not post my 1:2 assignment to facebook yet because I am a bit concerned it is too opinionated, and I don’t want to be offensive. (I will try to be less controversial!) Is it ok if I just leave it on our blog site here? Thank you, Kim B