Wednesday, September 16, 2015

A Vision for Aboriginal Education

Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspectives in the Classroom
(PDF download)
"The inspiration for this project was to support and build upon a regional dialogue that would lead to further strategies and clear commitments from all educators as we work to serve each learner, families, and communities. With a spirit of collaboration, a commitment to transformation, and an "If not here, where?" mindset, we approached Director Ted Cadwallader of the British Columbia Ministry of Education to share our School District 85 (Vancouver Island North) aspirations. Shortly thereafter, the vision and partnership was expanded to include four other school districts to host focus sessions on Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspectives in the Classroom."

=================


Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Groundwork for change website

Learn more about Indigenous peoples and issues
"Groundwork for Change" was built to provide access to information to help non-Indigenous (settler) peoples grow relationships with Indigenous peoples that are rooted in justice and solidarity.  This site is meant to support people who are asking questions and want to learn more in respectful and useful ways.  Of course, learning shouldn't only happen through a website, so this site also shares listings of events and initiatives that may help grow new relationships.

============

Monday, June 8, 2015

The Gift of Language and Culture - Cree resources

Reviving values, beliefs, culture, traditions
"The Gift of Language and Culture Website is an Aboriginal language site developed by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) Curriculum Resource Unit (CRU). [...] There are many features such as, Native stories, songs, and talking pictures. Native language Vocabulary Exercises are available in Flash for people of all ages to learn Cree TH, Y, or N dialect and even Dene.

----------------------

Downloadable Aboriginal Resource from CCBC

Hear Our Stories: Celebrating FNMI Literature

"The Canadian Children's Book Centre is offering a free online theme guide that focuses on books written by and about members of Canada's First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. It also provides activities for using these books in the classroom, library or at home. View it online or download."

---------------




Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Truth and Reconciliation report brings calls for action, not words

94 recommendations made
"Canadians must believe in the need for reconciliation with Aboriginal Peoples to repair the damage caused by residential schools, aboriginal leaders said Tuesday, as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its summary report and findings.

"Justice Murray Sinclair, chair of the commission, called for changes in policies and programs, as well as commemoration through education and memorials, in introducing the commission's summary report and 94 recommendations.

​"Words are not enough," Sinclair said, to address the "cultural genocide" of residential schools on aboriginal communities.

================

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Sage against the machine

"L'nuis'i! It's that easy!"
"Sitting in a bustling cafe on Gottingen Street, Savannah "Savvy" Simon is impossible to miss. Her long braids hang over her shoulders, nearly to her waist, and her moccasin-clad feet are tucked beneath her long buffalo-and-rainbow-patterned skirt. Beneath her white blazer, her tank top bears the words "L'nuis'i! It's that easy!"

---------------

Aboriginal Ed resource page - WLU Faculty of Education

"Aboriginal perspectives bring the curriculum to life"
A range of Language, History and Social Studies activities / lesson plans (from Ontario), mostly for Grades 1-8, that teach aboriginal perspectives, issues and achievements.

----------------

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Learn Mi'gmaq

L'nuisi! Give it a try!
"This is a website for learning the Mi'gmaq language online. It can be used independently, or to supplement classroom learning. In each section, you will find units consisting of lessons on related topics. In each lesson, you will learn new vocabulary, practice short dialogs, and do exercises to practice what you have learned so far. You will be able to listen to recordings of different Mi'gmaq speakers so that you can practice listening and speaking in Mi'gmaq above all else."

Note: most of the speakers are from Listuguj, and their pronunciation may be different from that in your home community.

===========

Monday, May 4, 2015

New "acknowledgement of territory" statement

First Peoples of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language group
See below the "acknowledgement of territory" statement we are now using in Richmond district after collaborating with community members from Musqueam. We had previously been using either the term Coast Salish (too broad of a term as it involves First Nations quite far up the coast, on Vancouver Island and in Washington and Oregon) or the term Musqueam (too specific as our island and rivers were shared territories with other Nations.) The current statement references a language group (hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓  speakers) and more accurately acknowledges the many Nations whose activities intersected with Lulu Island.
"We acknowledge and thank the First Peoples of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (hun-ki-meen-um) language group on whose traditional and unceded territories we teach, learn and live."

Some hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓  links to explore:
https://twitter.com/search?q=hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓

=========


Friday, May 1, 2015

Francis Horne Jr - Carving

I was in Abbotsford to present a session on electronic resources and was pleasantly surprised to find beautiful carvings by Francis Horne Jr. in the school library.
Some info about Francis from the Douglas Reynolds Gallery: 
  • Born in 1976, in Chilliwack, BC Francis Horne Jr. watched his father, Francis Horne Sr. carve since childhood.  He carved his first mask when he was twelve years old, and sold the first one at thirteen.  Francis has experience carving poles, masks, and rattles. He has also worked on a canoe that his father made for the Commonwealth Games.  Francis works in traditional styles while continuing to explore new ideas.  He is well on his way to becoming one of the prominent Northwest Coast artists of his generation
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)