Educators as Indigenous Allies

  Learning Glossary - Teaching, Learning, Creativity and Innovation   Creativity:             Creativity is like a positive spark.   In Bell’s (2014) Anishinaabe Medicine Wheel teachings, creativity is “vision” which is associated with spirituality and wholeness. Creativity is part of the ongoing process of teaching and learning we are all engaged in through living and being together. Creativity brings us together in new ways with fresh perspectives, helping us to better understand how to live together in a good way. There are various forms of creativity and these are emphasized or cultivated differently in diverse cultures around the world, however creativity is a universal human quality. Innovation:             Innovation is the application of creativity, with the added element of wisdom, to create something of value.   On a basic level it is taking...

                                                              Cover Image (Chrona, 2023)        Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies – An Act for Reconciliation and Anti-Racist Education is written by Jo Chrona, an Indigenous educator from the Kitsumkalum (Tsimshian) and Gitsegula (Gitxsan) First Nations on the West Coast of BC.  The book deeply explores important concepts such as how to learn in a good way, knowing we will make mistakes and having the courage to be the discomfort that is needed to start learning about anti-racism.   She explores different aspects of racism, and how to examine our own bias and assumptions.   She skillfully presents a model representing the progression of   “Becoming Anti-Racist in Canada”(p.60) which begins in fear, separation and denial and moves through a l...

Blog Reflections on  Educators As Indigenou s Allies (2024) Blog address: https://educatorallies.blogspot.com/             Reflecting on the experience of blogging over the past two months, I am very inspired to keep blogging.   At the beginning I was unsure of how to get started.   Previously, I created two different PME learning websites prior to this course, and I wanted to move from the static website format into a more interactive blogging format so that I could start a more interactive and reciprocal dialogue with people.   Up until this point, I have really enjoyed the opportunity to write, study and develop greater confidence in my own abilities within the supportive confines of our Queen’s University cohort.    Still, I felt excited to start a process which could be expanded further into my own local community, and which I can share and collaborate with others interested in decolonization, ...

  Medicine Wheel Image (Littlejohn657, 2021) As I reflect on Indigenous perspectives on teaching and learning, coming to the end of my two year journey into Indigenous Education, it seems appropriate to revisit Bell’s (2014) article Teaching by the Medicine Wheel which discusses an Anishinaabe perspective on Medicine Wheels as pedagogical tools, using her experience at the Anishinaabe Bimaadiziwin Cultural Healing and Learning Program to help us understand .  In the article, Bell discusses the diversity of Medicine Wheel teachings throughout Turtle Island, and talks about some of their shared commonalities which can be helpful for all teachers to understand.  In many ways it feels appropriate to complete this circle, and reflect upon this article with new understanding, while exploring Indigenous perspectives of teaching, learning, creativity and innovation.    One essential commonality of Medicine Wheels noted by Bell (2014) is that they “transmit a common ...

  Professional Development Reflection On May 27 I attended and helped organize my school’s local on site Professional Development Day, which was an all day event from 8:30 – 3pm.    The event was a collaborative professional day with all the teachers at our school.   We had planned the day by seeking feedback though an online form after our last Professional Day.    It was targeted to our local school, to provide an opportunity for teachers to collaborate on interests and important issues that we can work together as a team. We wanted to learn more about these issues collectively and begin to problem solve and find innovative solutions together in community.   We started with gathering around food and coffee, followed by a round table group discussion to share celebrations, positive progress, from the year.   Then we broke out into session groups to brainstorm ideas and questions about issues that were identified through a staff survey.   T...