Indigenous Education

Indigenous history is so crucial to learning and appreciating Indigenous culture, knowledge, and ways of living, as well as, to discover the horrible Canadian events of the past in order to move forward into reconciliation. This will allow for a more accepting and understanding society as the beginning stages of healing occur. I can honestly say that the majority of my Indigenous learning occurred in high school through both my English and History classes. In elementary school we learned the basics, but not big historical events that put an impact on Canada as a whole, such as residential schools or the sixties scoop. I would say that majority of the Indigenous knowledge being taught in elementary school was based on hunting and the uses of the bison. If we touched on other aspects, it must have been brief, as I am embarrassed to admit that I did not know much going into high school. There were sometimes Indigenous speakers or ceremonial events taking place, but I often had a difficult time processing the knowledge being taught. Perhaps, because I didn’t have essential background information? However, I am so thankful that my resources have opened up and I am able to study much more about Indigenous people and their history. I have learned that gaining Indigenous knowledge is a constant learning process and there is always much more to learn and value. The learning process is a journey and more research can always be done, which is what I would like to incorporate into my classroom. This course has really taught me through videos and reading that Indigenous knowledge and history is so critical to protect and preserve, as it is valuable for future individuals. After acquiring this information, I know that I will recognize and include Indigenous knowledge in the courses that I teach. Providing the next generations with lessons, appreciations, and mistakes of past Indigenous interactions will only lead to a more inclusive Canadian society.