Before the start of our final practicum we were able to attend the Indigenous Day of Learning professional development day with school district 57. I was fortunate to attend a seminar with speaker Dr. Dustin Louie. One of my biggest takeaways was his discussion on incorporation versus indigenization. It is one thing to fulfill curricular targets with Indigenous education and First Peoples Principles of Learning and another to practice it and fully immerse yourself in the teachings. Incorporating Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing is a significant step towards reconciliation and working towards a better future, but we can take it one step further by indigenizing our practice. Indigenizing the curriculum makes the learning more meaningful and personal. As we approach the week of Truth and Reconciliation in SD 57, I have really taken into consideration what Dr. Dustin Louie has shared with us. I plan to begin our week by reading ‘The Orange Shirt Story’ by Phyllis Webstad and finishing our week with a Medicine wheel teaching on mind, body, spirit and heart. The medicine wheel we create will become our classroom contract and promise to one another in order to maintain a safe, and inclusive space for all students. I look forward to the learning to come.
Leave a Reply