Future Vision Project 2.0 - Learner Considerations LIBE477B

I've been giving a lot of thought to this vision project, and feel that I need to change tracks.  Inspired by our exploration of digital libraries in developing nations and by a thoughtful blogpost at Let's Taco 'Bout Books on developing libraries in remote Indigenous Canadian reserves, I became interested in examining how socio-economic inequalities in Canada may be impacting the early literacy and digital literacy skills of Indigenous learners.  I had initially thought to research and share information on easy-to-use digital library apps such as RAZKids that could be used to bolster early literacy skills and digital skills for Indigenous communities who may lack access to print materials.  However, I've realized that as a high-school teacher, I'm feeling a little out of my depth in addressing early literacy.  Furthermore, I've since become aware that our district has a literacy specialist who is currently working toward improving the early literacy skills of Aboriginal students in the district.

I'd like to switch focus to another area of interest: the importance of including culturally relevant material.  As an Indigenous person, there had been little culturally relevant material in my schooling.  However, that is all changing.  The British Columbia Ministry of Education has taken the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action seriously, and now Indigenous content and perspectives are required in every course at every grade level.  As an Indigenous person, this is a very welcome change that leaves me hopeful for the future; as an educator, I know that this change will require much time and effort from teachers to make this new aspect of the curriculum meaningful.

Justice Murray Sinclair, Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, has said, "It is precisely because education was the primary tool of oppression of Aboriginal people, and miseducation of all Canadians, that we have concluded that education holds the key to reconciliation." While Residential Schools and its legacy of intergenerational trauma are one of the darkest parts of Canadian history, it is essential that our education system teaches all students about the the history and cultures of Indigenous people.  Educating youth about this history, the bright and the dark, is necessary for our nation to move toward understanding and unity.  And as Justice Sinclair noted, teachers play a vital role, and perhaps the most important role, in working toward Reconciliation.

Given the importance of integrating Indigenous content and perspectives, I'd like to be able to support teachers who are interested in including learning about the Okanagan (Syilx) people.  As a high school English and Social Studies teacher, I have found there are many great resources on Residential Schools, including lessons and resources from the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC), the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, Where Are the Children, and Project of Heart.  These resources provide excellent lessons and links to resources that address the Residential School experience across Canada.

Image from First Nation Education Steering Committee Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Resources.

While these resources are excellent,  I was interested in teaching the local history of the Okanagan nation. I found I spent a lot of time and effort gathering resources focused on the experience of Okanagan children at the Kamloops Residential School, and as a member of the Okanagan nation, I am lucky to have contacts in the community who directed me to locally written resources such as the Okanagan Nation Alliance's 2018 publication Take the Indian Out of the Child: Syilx Okanagan Experiencees in the Violent and Forced Assimilation of Indian Residential Schools.

Photo by Charity Sakakibara

I realize that I have contacts in the community who can share or direct me to resources that a non-Aboriginal teacher might not be aware of, and I'd like to help those teachers find these resources more easily.  I'd like to create a website for teachers working in the Okanagan valley who are looking to include the history and culture of the Okanagan (Syilx) people.  A website of lessons and resources on Okanagan history and culture would allow teachers in the Okanagan Valley to spend less time and effort searching for these resources, and make it more likely that they would feel comfortable integrating the history and culture of the Syilx people into their classrooms.  This is so important, for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students alike; not only will Syilx students see themselves reflected in the curriculum, but non-Aboriginal students will increase their understanding and knowledge of Indigenous peoples.  In this small way, I feel like I'm making a contribution to the process of Reconciliation in this country.

Image from www.kairos.org

Despite never having created a website before, I'm feeling confident that I can take up this challenge to create a simple and easy-to-navigate website the offers lesson ideas and links to resources for Okanagan Valley teachers looking to integrate learning about the local Syilx community into their classroom.  I knew next to nothing about blogging before this course, and look at me now!  I realize that my website may not be the most polished and professional when it makes it's debut in a few weeks, but I'm hoping that this artifact will be less an "artifact" and more of a work in progress that I can continue to update in my new role as Director of Aboriginal Learning.

Resources

Education for Reconciliation. British Columbia Teachers Federation. https://bctf.ca/publications/TeacherArticle.aspx?id=38000.  Accessed 11:24, March 19, 2019.

Indian Residential School and Reconciliation Resources. First Nations Education Steering Committee.  www.fnesc.ca.  Accessed 10:30, March 19, 2019.

Residential School Resources.  Aboriginal Healing Foundation. www.ahf.ca.  Accessed 10:29, March 19, 2019.

Resources.  Where Are the Children. www.wherearethechildren.ca.  Accessed 10:34, March 19, 2019.

Teacher Guides and Lessons Plans. Project of Heart. www.projectofheart.ca. Accessed 10:29, March 19, 2019.