Indigenous Foundations: Getting Started

In-person

Incorporating Indigenous topics and voices into university classrooms is essential. But where do you begin? Educational institutions have historically excluded Indigenous knowledges and privileged others. Not only is this an important pedagogical shift, but it is also a needed shift to create safer classrooms for Indigenous students. Understanding the foundations is essential for growing confidence and capacity to hold the complexities of meaningful conversations. 

In this session we will: 

• Explore introductory Indigenous topics through the Indigenous Foundations resource. We will touch on such topics as: terminology, basics of Indigenous land rights (for example: what is the difference between ceded and unceded?), and essentials of the colonial history of Canada. 

• Develop critical reflection while incorporating Indigenous topics, contexts, and knowledges within our curriculum  
• Examine the impacts and triggers these conversations can have on Indigenous students and how to better support them. 
• During this session there will be discussion, opportunities for questions, and explore how to incorporate Indigenous Foundations and other helpful resources in your classroom. 

Audience?  

Anyone in within the teaching and learning community who is curious about incorporating Indigenous content into their courses but feels like they are not sure where to start.

Facilitators: 

• Janelle Kasperski, Educational Consultant
• Samantha Nock, Educational Consultant, Campus and Classroom Climate 

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