Indspire - National Gathering for Indigenous Education

Sharing Indigenous Voices: From Thoughts to Being:

2016 National Gathering for Indigenous Education

Truth and Reconciliation, an Educators Guide: containing 20 education plans with learning strategies, resources and assignments to bring education on the TRC to the classroom. The TRC spent seven years examining the history and legacies of the residential school system. In June 2015 the TRC presented the final report alongside 94 Calls to Action. The legacies of residential schools on Aboriginal communities cannot be understated. Education must not just unearth the past but also determine what we can do about it in the future. Justice Murray Sinclair stated "Education is the key to reconciliation". 
Facilitators: Dr. Niigaan Sinclair, Professor and Head of Native Studies, University of Manitoba, MB. 

Restorative Practices with an Aboriginal Perspective in the classroom: teaching derived from Restorative Justice, employing methods for individuals to be held accountable for their actions against others. Workshop also went into detail about four traditional teachings: medicine wheel (additional activity), seven grandfather/grandmother teachings, sharing circle and elder and oral traditions. Also learned from the Black Elk teaching "All things made to be in a circle". 
Facilitators: Sandra Samatte (Educational Consultant, The power of Seven, Grand Rapids MB) and Holly Linski (Educational Consultant, The Power of Seven, Grand Rapids MB). 


Blanket Ceremony "Walk a Mile in Our Footsteps": Facilitated through KARIOS, in the Blanket Exercise participants take on the roles of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Standing on blankets that represent the land, they walk through pre-contact, treaty-making, colonization and resistance. They are directed by facilitators representing a narrator (or narrators) and the European colonizers. A very practical tool to use - if carefully facilitated - with adults and youth. 
Facilitators: Alison Cox (Aboriginal Circle of Educations, Winnipeg MB) and Angela Fox (Aboriginal Circle of Educators, Winnipeg MB). 

Film and presentation from the NFB "An Educator's Guide to Trick or Treaty? and Hi-Ho Mistahey": a framework for introducing these films into the classroom and examining how they relate to Indigenous issues in Canada by tracing the Canadian Treaty process. Film "Trick or Treaty?" focuses on treaty process, role of oral history, and youth participating in change. Film "Hi-Ho Mistahey" focuses on what is equal vs. equitable and the impact of youth involvement. Other films to check out include: "We Can't Make the Same Mistakes Twice", "This River", "The Road Forward", "Angry Inuk". 
Facilitators: Ross Johnstone (NFB), Brad Baker (District Principal Aboriginal Ed BC), and Stephanie Maki (Aboriginal Academic Support Teacher BC).


Indigenous Ally-ship and Education: Exploring what it means to become an Indigenous ally and how to create culturally safe spaces and environments for Indigenous students as an ally. Introduced to the "Anishinaabe Bundle", something that can be built as an individual or as a school community - an extension of spirit. A bundle for allyship could include sacred objects and a document declaring allyship. Learned about the teaching from Tecumseh: "A single twig breaks but the bundle of twigs is strong". An ally is a personal from the dominant group who works for the equality of a minority group. 
Facilitator: Eddy Robinson (Indigenous Education ON)


Building Student Success through Mentorship: focusing on Aboriginal Student Leadership groups and their impacts on school community. These leadership groups have created opportunities for Indigenous students to learn about their identity and take park in community social justice.  Suggested steps: plan team building, provide student voice, start small, provide food, don't be discouraged by small numbers, advertise, write grants to support activities, give credit. 
Facilitators: Bernadette Smith (Seven Oaks School Division, MB) and Ryan Cook (Seven Oaks School Division MB)