Friday, November 28, 2014

UBC Faculty of Education's Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Indigenous Education

UBC Faculty of Education is delivering a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), a free 6-week course titled Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education that begins on January 27, 2015.

It is facilitated by Dr. Jan Hare. Jan Hare is an Anishinaabe from the M'Chigeeng First Nation. She holds the Faculty of Education's new Professorship in Indigenous Education for Teacher Education at UBC. Her research interests include the social practices of literacy in Aboriginal families, schools and communities. She has a particular interest in Aboriginal early learning and youth issues. She is mentoring doctoral students working on Aboriginal language revitalization and Aboriginal education.
Participants will learn about Indigenous Education through the lens of reconciliation, and will engage with educational leaders and resources that provide direction for how education programs and teaching practices can be modified in order to meaningfully integrate Indigenous knowledge worldviews and pedagogies in classrooms, schools and communities.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

On-line Teacher Resources for Indigenous Education

Aboriginal Education Resources
(K-9 classroom focus)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

A UBC resource on topics relating to the histories, politics, and cultures of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada. This website was developed to provide instructors, researchers and the public with a place to begin exploring topics that relate to Aboriginal peoples, cultures, and histories.

CLASSROOM RESOURCES ACROSS MULTIPLE CURRICULA:

A thorough UBC resource that focuses on Indigenous perspectives, curricular resources (e.g. links, texts, children’s literature), multimedia, and literature that links theory to practice.

The BC Ministry of Education Aboriginal Education portal has several important documents and links archived, including BC maps, and the cross-curricular document, Shared Learnings K-10 (find under Learning Resources on this page).

The First Nations Education Steering Committee website has valuable resources under the Resources tab, and then the First Peoples Curriculum and Classroom Resources tab, including the First People’s Principles of Learning, and the curricula for English First Peoples (grades 10-12) and Math First Peoples (Grades 8-9).  Click on First Peoples Authentic Classroom Resources – K-7 and K-3 to access an extensive book list of authentic First Peoples texts, and a document for K-3 classroom teachers called, “In Our Own Words: Bringing Authentic First Peoples Content to the K-3 Classroom”.

The Canadian government website for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development/Indian and Northern Affairs Canada has teacher resources.  Go to Aboriginal Arts, Culture and Heritage tab, kids’ stop tab, classroom resources tab to access Learning Circle resources with lesson ideas and stories for students ages 4-16.

SUBJECT-SPECIFIC RESOURCES:

Math/Science:
Teaches elementary mathematics through Aboriginal storytelling.  Series of videos can be viewed under stories/movies tab.
An amazing BC resource for Aboriginal knowledge about local plants and their uses as food and medicines.
Humanities:
Great resources on anti-discrimination education, including video resources.
CBC series about contemporary Aboriginal issues, with teacher guide.

Residential Schools Websites:
Project of heart is an inquiry-based project about the history of Aboriginal people in Canada. http://www.trc.ca                                                                                                                                 This is the website of the truth and reconciliation commission of Canada.   Under resources
tab, click on They Came for the Children for a teacher’s guide.

Residential Schools Videos:
We Were Children.  2012 National Film Board film on Canadian Residential Schools available for booking from the DRC.
Savage.  http://lisajackson.ca/Savage.  6 minute film by Canadian Anishinaabe filmmaker Lisa Jackson.

DISTRICT BLOGS:

A district blog of professional learning opportunities, district and community initiatives and events.

A district blog for teachers sharing out their lived classroom experiences teaching with an Aboriginal focus.

LIBRARIES:

Richmond’s District Resource Centre (DRC).  On Richnet, go to the DRC Media Manager Catalog and search “Aboriginal Content” or “Aboriginal Kits” to access many kits and resources available on loan to teachers.
UBC library for the First Nations House of Learning.  UBC alumni can borrow for free with an Alumni Card.

TO PURCHASE RESOURCES:

A local company that sells authentic Indigenous resources, and provides lesson plans for some titles.

For more information, contact Leanne McColl, Teacher Consultant, at lmccoll@sd38.bc.ca.


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

BCIT Speaker Series

      2014- 2015 Aboriginal Speaker Series - Past, Present, and Future

 BCIT’s 5th annual Aboriginal Speaker Series is dedicated to compelling speakers share their stories on issues that affect the Aboriginal community, culture, and the world around us.

Either attend in person, or register for live streaming.


Upcoming Speakers

Why You're Important in the Mosaic of Life

Pearl Means, Chair, T.R.E.A.T.Y. Education Endowment
Wednesday, Nov 26
12:30pm - 1:30pm
Burnaby Campus, SW1, 1521

The beauty and power of the indigenous world view will be shared along with perspectives on how everything is interrelated and interconnected; and empowerment -- sharing some of Russel Means' passion and work.
Pearl Daniel-Means walked at the side of American Indian activist, artist, author, and actor Russell Means as his wife, business manager, and collaborator. From activism to the arts; from indigenous policies to Hollywood, she accompanied, organized, and managed the affairs of the most influential American Indian of our time.

Past Speakers: (Archived presentations are available to view on the website)

First Nations Language, Culture, and Spirituality

Gwen Point, BEd, MEd, EdD (candidate)
Faculty, University of the Fraser Valley
Wednesday, Oct 22
12:30pm - 1:30pm
Burnaby Campus, SW1, 1521
First Nations language, culture, and spirituality will be shared by addressing the past historical impacts from government educational policies that reflect our reality today. Where are we today and what does that mean for our future will be shared with a focus on language, culture, and spirituality.

Gwen Point resides on Skowkale First Nation in Chilliwack, BC. She has a degree in Education from UBC-NITEP, a Post Baccalaureate Diploma from SFU, a Master of Education from the University of Portland, and currently completing her Doctorate in Education from SFU. She is a professor at the University of the Fraser Valley and wife of the previous Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Steven Point.