Applying Foundational Knowledge about First Nations, Metis and Inuit
Indigenous Education Artifact
Indigenous Education is an important part of our education system and the history of Alberta and Canada. As a new teacher, the incorporation of Indigenous ways of knowing is high on the priority list, I would like to be able to do this authentically and with respect in the classroom.
The artifact I chose is a visual representation of the journey that my group members and I went on through the duration of our Indigenous Education course. Through this course, we used the program of studies to expand our knowledge and understanding of, and respect for, the histories, cultures, languages, contributions, perspectives, experiences and contemporary contexts of First Nations, Metis and Inuit. The artifact represents where we started, where we went, where we are now and where we are going in the future concerning our learning and understanding of Indigenous culture as teachers. For many of us, we only had a very basic knowledge of this history and throughout the course, we began to uncover areas of growth and understanding how we can bring this into the classroom.
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It is with respect that we developed our artifact to show our journey, but also to show that our journey was not over at the end of the course. I can take my journey to help support the learning experiences of all students by using resources that accurately reflect and demonstrate the strength and diversity of First Nations, Metis and Inuit.
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AREA OF GROWTH
Indigenous Education is my area for growth. After the course, I felt eager to step into the classroom to try out some of my ideas. What I quickly realized is that it is harder than it looks. I struggled with authentically implementing Indigenous ways of knowing, it was hard to find smooth transitions and make appropriate connections without the information turning into a unit or history lesson. In looking back at my artifact, I see it differently now, I see it as a starting point and I would consider adjusting the headings to be where we started, where we are now, where we need to research, how to bring these ideas into the classroom. The practical application is where I see the potential for research, development and growth.