Way, ki’suk kyukyit & tansi,

Winlaw Elementary has had another fun and exciting year in Indigenous Education. Through my involvement with the BCTF, I was invited to pilot a curriculum developed at UBC in the 90’s by Dr. Jo-ann Archibald, in collaboration with elders and traditional knowledge keepers. The BCTF and UBC are currently working together to update the curriculum to reinvigorate it and distribute it widely across the province. 

The curriculum is called ‘First Nations Journeys of Justice’ and goes from Kindergarten to Gr. 7. I was asked to pilot the grade 5 curriculum. This curriculum is truly a testament to Indigenous pedagogical practices. I often share the ‘Mr. Miagi’ story with students as an analogy for Indigenous pedagogy- the way I was taught, the lessons we learn through Indigenous ways of knowing are implicit and give the learner the opportunity to learn something new without being explicitly told what it is they are learning. This curriculum couldn’t have validated that belief more for me. One of the foundational aspects to the Gr. 5 curriculum is learning and re-enacting a First Nations creation story. The story that is provided is from the Haida Gwaii as told by Elder Jon Sky. In the first class you tell the story and then in every subsequent class you start by having the students reenact the story. 

There were so many days where I was sure that the students wouldn’t want to do it again. We had done it so many times I figured they must be getting bored and I almost scrapped the process entirely. Much to my surprise, I learned through experience that the students became deeply routined and attached to our re-dramatization. Often the first thing they would ask me when they saw me at school was “Are we going to do our play today?” It became a powerful way to ground ourselves and connect with one another. In the end, I felt I was the one who got Mr. Miagi’d. In addition to the play, the students heard from First Nations lawyers and knowledge keepers about the importance of justice in society both in a traditional and contemporary context.There was a lot of powerful and practical learning through the ‘Journeys of Justice’ and I highly recommend it for any classroom teacher. 

As well, we continue to drum and sing and we have been enjoying our new tipi, spending time out on the land and learning about local First Peoples. As always, it is truly an honor to serve the community in this way.