Big Ideas in Education Blog

Category: First Nations

  • Teaching the Indian Act

      The Indian Act of 1876 was the consolidation of other Acts that were created to begin to ‘Civilize’ and assimilate Aboriginal Peoples into Canada. It is still alive and very much in pace today, still mostly organized in its original form, despite dozens of amendments. It is a very destructive Act that sought to…

  • 13 Strategies to Promote Equity and Diversity in the Classroom For First Nations, Metis & Inuit Students

    The FNMI populations across North America are incredibly diverse, both linguistically and culturally. With literally hundreds of different First Nations and Aboriginal populations, we are faced with many challenges with regards to how we can adequately preserve Indigenous knowledge and ways of living within Canada. Indigenous populations are also the fastest growing populations in Canada.…

  • The Classroom Line Up: A First Nations Perspective

    I recently broached the topic of the ‘Classroom Line-Up’ with my husband, who is of First Nations descent. I was interested in learning if First Nations communities may have different perspectives about the act of the classroom Line-Up. I firmly believe that we as educators, all need to work to integrate First Nations, Metis, &…

  • It’s a good thing to be Humble: Humility in our School Systems

      ‘It’s a good thing to be Humble’, my Grandmother once said many years ago. Sounds simple enough, but I always come back to that statement in my life. How can something so simple, have the ability to affect our lives so greatly? Humility one of the Seven Grandfather Teachings, and is basically the act…

  • Making the Shift to Inquiry Based Instruction

      Currently I am re-examining my instructional practice, and trying to understand how I can effectively teach students to nurture a sense of wonder about the Natural world around us. With my current focus, on integrating FNMI strategies into the Science Curriculum, I have decided that Inquiry Based Learning is a strategy worthy of researching…

  • Restorative Practice Circles

    Restorative Practice Circles are based upon the First Nations tradition of Talking Circles. First Nations, Metis & Inuit cultures are built upon oral traditions, therefore Talking Circles have been important ways to maintain and pass down important cultural teachings. Restorative Practice is a form of justice, where in the classroom, it could be comprised of the…

  • The Power of Language & Lamenting the loss of Native Languages

      Ever since my husband and I downloaded the code from Ogoki Learning Systems, we have began a lengthy process of creating an app that will allow First peoples from the Munsee-Delaware First Nation to have access to approximately 2000 words of the Munsee-Delaware Language. Neither of us have ever created an app before, and…

  • 7 Reasons to Integrate Indigenous Knowledge into Science Curriculum

      According to the ‘Seven Grandfather Teachings’ what we teach our children now, will have an effect for the next 7 generations. What can Educators teach this generation of students right now, that will help our planet and environment for the next seven generations? The Science Curriculum is an excellent place to integrate Indigenous Knowledge…