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Centre for Innovation in Teaching & Learning
Centre for Innovation in Teaching & Learning
Centre for Innovation in Teaching & Learning
“Indigenization: relational and collaborative process that involves various levels of transformation, from inclusion and integration to infusion of Indigenous perspectives and approaches in education.” (Pulling Together: A Guide for Teachers & Instructors)
As public post-secondary teachers and instructors, we have a responsibility to build upon a foundation of cultural safety and racial equity, engaging students with the knowledge and skills necessary to work with and build relationships with Indigenous Peoples and communities, and valuing the ways of knowing and being of Indigenous knowledge systems.
The Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning can connect you with a variety of activities and perspectives in navigating actions of Indigenization and reconciliation in teaching. We hope what you find here is the start or continuation of your own learning journey - one that invites reflection and action.
As Jody Wilson-Raybould encourages:
“To me, true reconciliation action, challenges, elevates, and advances.
… Challenges means our actions challenge oneself, and others
… Elevates means our actions elevate a shared understanding of the historic and contemporary reality of Indigenous Peoples in Canada
… Advances means our actions contribute to a proper relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples”
(Wilson-Raybould, True Reconciliation, 283-286).
The Pathways into Indigenization were created by Dana Wesley (MA) and Shaun Longstreet (Ph.D) to guide the College in efforts towards Indigenization and Reconciliation. The Pathways provide five entry points into doing this important work at the College.
This page builds on the Pathways, which mark different entry points into Indigenization. Staff are encouraged to start where they are personally. Fundamentally, we all start from a basis of self-awareness of our own intercultural horizons, a willingness to learn, and openness to engage other perspectives. At any rate, there is a continual need to build upon a foundation of cultural safety and racial equity. When one is competent with the basic elements of the pathways into Indigenization, then incorporating more complex and nuanced elements of the pathways will be more likely to succeed.
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This series is geared toward College of the Rockies instructors with the goal to increase their understanding of the colonial roots of the academy, the movement to transform colleges to be more inclusive of Indigenous peoples, and to inspire them to move toward decolonizing their pedagogies.
Recognizing this great privilege to learn from Dr. Brunette-Debassige in this way and recognizing the open spirit with which she has shared these lessons with us and others, this section introduces you to Dr. Brunette-Debassige, her original Modules (titled the Indigenous Teaching & Learning Series), and our use of these modules at College of the Rockies.
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Before students learn from Indigenous Peoples’ (for example, Elders, Knowledge Holders, guest speakers, or field trips to Indigenous communities) consider orienting them to the activity by ‘becoming story ready’. This facilitator guide and the suggested activities found here are based on Jo-ann Archibald’s text, Indigenous Storywork: Educating the Heart, Mind, Body, and Spirit. As a Stó:lō scholar, Jo-Ann’s work teaches readers how we are meant to learn from Indigenous Peoples’ stories – whether they be traditional stories (such as the Ktunaxa Creation Story), experiential stories (an Elder sharing teachings and life experiences), or scholarly stories (a scholar, expert, or Knowledge Holder presenting on their work/research). This guide is intended for College of the Rockies instructors who wish to facilitate Story Ready activities with their own students. Activities can be adapted for in-person, online, synchronous, and asynchronous teaching contexts.
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As you engage in your own Pathways to Indigenization, the Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning can connect you with:
additional resources for considering cultural safety, anti-racism and decolonizing practices within your discipline
avenues for integrating Indigenous Peoples' perspectives into your curriculum and courses
approaches for reviewing your course content for diversifying the perspectives you and your students explore
other College supports, such as Indigenous Education resources and events