How to build an

Aboriginal
perspective into
our classrooms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW
K6ChJw8hs
Gaps between the First Nations &
the rest of Canada
WHY?
Truth & Reconciliation
Agreement
- Learning the history and making sure it
is not forgotten
- Creating awareness so the mistakes
aren’t repeated

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4
First
Peoples
Principles
of Learning

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What does an Aboriginal
perspective entail?
✗ Looking at the content from a different worldview

✗ Understanding different perspectives

✗ Bringing in stories

✗ Becomes a one off - incorporating it into the daily learnings

✗ Truth and reconciliation

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BIG
CONCEPT
- Strength based learner centre
practice
- Overcoming racism

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 Difficulties of Implementation
✗ An outsider’s perspective
✗ Fearful of offending, fearful of being wrong
✗ Lack of resources or direction
✗ No continuum throughout grades
✗ No understanding of WHY, “forced to care”
✗ How much aboriginal education is enough?
✗ Multicultural society- we incorporate everyone
✗ Negative connotation and a lack of understanding
✗ Varying information based on region
✗ Affirmative action
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 Where do we go from here?

✗ More teacher training

✗ More connection to aboriginal community members
✗ More collaboration with teachers
✗ Create more cross-curricular lessons
✗ Input from school staff, students, parents, community
members, and involved stakeholders
✗ Creating a welcoming and inclusive environment

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 Success Indicators
✗ Students feel a sense of belonging
✗ More realistic understanding from non-aboriginals and less
racism
✗ More care for our aboriginal community
✗ Aboriginal curriculum is just part of the curriculum and not an
add-on
✗ Teachers, students, and all involved see the relevance of it
✗ More aboriginal participation in school activities and teams
✗ Higher graduation rates and more university-bound aboriginal
students 11
 Useful Links

✗ https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/administration/kin
dergarten-to-grade-12/aboriginal-
education/awp_moving_forward.pdf
✗ www.bced.gov.bc.ca/abed/documents.htm
✗ www.fnesc.ca/resources
✗ http://noii.ca/aesn/
✗ http://noii.ca/spiral-of-inquiry/
✗ www.k12innovation.ca

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