Indigenous Ways of Knowing

I am really excited to bring Indigenous ways of knowing into my classroom at Regina Public Schools. As someone newer to Canada, I initially had limited exposure to these perspectives, but since moving here, I’ve learned a lot about Indigenous spirituality, their traditions, treaty relationships, and the 4 R’s which are responsibility, respect, relevance, and reciprocity. These ideas have changed the way I see our connection to the land and I want to share this knowledge with my students.

Responsibility

In Indigenous ways of knowing, responsibility is shared and it means working together to care for the land and community. This perspective is such an important part of students’ learning. They will see education as something that not only benefits themselves but as something that they can do to help others. In the classroom, students will participate in group projects, hands-on activities, and discussions. For example, students will have a choice to select an ecosystem like a forest, ocean, desert, or others and explore our responsibility to protect it. They will look into human impact and ways to care for the natural world from Indigenous and Western perspectives. This will help them understand that we have a collective responsibility to protect the environment and help and support each other’s growth.

Respect

Respect is another important value that will shape my classroom. Indigenous knowledge teaches us that all living and non-living things have a spirit and a purpose. In the classroom, it means that every student’s voice and perspective matter. One idea that really stands out to me is Jesse Wente’s comparison of diversity to a forest. Just as a forest grows strong with different trees, our classroom is also stronger when we value diverse perspectives. Students will engage in group discussions and  projects that will help them understand and appreciate different ways of thinking. For example, they will work in teams and research how different cultures understand and use natural resources like water, plants, or animals. They will present their finding and discuss how different perspectives can help us learn from each other and better care for the environment.

“In thinking of inclusion and diversity, think of a forest— is there one kind of tree? No. That tells us the natural way is diverse” (Popp, 2022, 40:47).
Relevance

I also aim to make learning more relevant and meaningful by connecting Indigenous perspective to real life. For example, students will look at the prairie ecosystem as an example of the diversity, where each plant and animal plays a crucial role in maintaining balance and harmony. They will choose a plant or animal to research and explain its role in nature from scientific and Indigenous perspectives. This activity will help them connect with the land and understand their responsibility to nature and each other.

Reciprocity

Another key idea is reciprocity.  It teaches us to give back to nature as it provides for us. I believe people should feel connected to the nature and see it as more than just a resource of food, water, shelter, clothes, etc . To explore this, students will take a moment to appreciate nature, reflect on what they are grateful for, and think about how their actions impact the environment. They will take photos of nature and connect them to reciprocity and discuss ways we can take care of the environment.

I hope to create a classroom where every student learns to take care of our environment, respect different views, and see a strong connection between people and nature. I look forward to sharing these ideas and building a classroom where everyone is respected and valued.

Please feel free to navigate through different parts of my assignment here: