Upholding and privileging Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, connecting, and being into the fabric of Werklund School of Education is crucial to the success of students, faculty, and the institution. Below is a list of websites that provide examples of how perspectives can be upheld and centered in educational settings. Please note: these are only supplemental resources and we encourage all academic staff to connect with one of our Indigenous scholars for further consultation on how to ethically implement Indigenous practices, culture and pedagogy into courses.
This online interactive resource was designed by Alberta Learning to help educators understand the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit worldviews and perspectives on teaching and learning while gaining examples of how Indigenous perspectives could be implemented in curriculum.
Walking Together (Flash required, 2018)Empowering the Spirit
This resource was developed by Calgary Regional Consortium, one of the members of the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia (ARPDC), and has foundational knowledge on the history of Alberta's Indigenous people, reconciliation and Indigenous ways of knowing. There are also resources to support experiential learning activities and professional development to support the educational success of Indigenous students.
This guide is intended to support educators who are deepening their foundational knowledge and educational approaches to foster reconciliation. It features guiding questions and other resources that center around the themes of Cultures of Belonging; Instructional Design; Pedagogy and Sharing Through Story.
This document was created by Alberta Education with the contribution of Aboriginal elders, teachers and psychologists to assist educators in meaningfully supporting and serving the needs to Indigenous students. This resource offers information about Indigenous cultures and perspectives, practical ideas, and sample strategies that will help teachers meet the needs and recognize the gifts of Indigenous students (Alberta Education, 2005).
Our Words, Our Ways (2005)Alberta Education: Guiding Voices
A curriculum development tool for inclusion of First Nations, Métis and Inuit perspectives is specifically designed to guide development and evaluation both provincially and locally. This resource is designed to assist educators in implementing accurate and relevant perspectives and content into their curricula. The framework for this tool is comprised of four pillars: 1) relationships; 2) language, cultural identity and voice; 3) experiences and worldviews, and; 4) ancestors, time and place.
Professional Learning Pebbles is a collection of 24 short activities created by the Alberta Teachers’ Association Walking Together Project to support certificated teachers on their learning journey to meet the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Foundational Knowledge competency in the Teaching Quality Standard.
Galileo Network: Naming The West
Learning the history that lies behind the familiar names of Western Canadian places is one way of learning about the people who have lived there and the power struggles behind who gets to name what.
Toulouse, P.R. Truth and Reconciliation in Canadian Schools. (2018). Winnipeg, Portage and Main Press.
This is a teacher's resource with interactive strategies, resources and lesson plans.
This website has a variety of resources on for instructors and curriculum designers to support online learning opportunities for Indigenous learners.EdCan Network
EdCan Network has an online magazine that regularly features articles and resources related to Indigenous Education and the implementation of the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Among the resources available is an infographic titled Truth and Reconciliation in Your Classroom, which has guidelines about supporting authentic learning; relationship building; and learning about Indigenous peoples' protocols, traditions and ways of knowing.
The University of Calgary offers the Indigenous Relations Training Program (IRTP), a 24-hour face-to-face course available to students, staff faculty and the general public. It is intended to provide "a better understanding of the issues facing Canada's Indigenous population today and how to effectively build relationships with those communities."
- Connecting Land to Teaching Pedagogy
Bachelor of Education students are invited to take part in this series of land- and place-based experiences that will increase their understanding ways of knowing, and prepare them to integrate different Indigenous perspectives in their teaching.Master of Education Interdisciplinary Studies Specialization Topics
- Indigenous Education: A Call To Action
This four-course graduate for-credit topic in the MEd Multidisciplinary program, designed to help "educators, educational leaders, policy makers, and other concerned citizens, to embark on the work of reconciling relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. This program explores themes of decolonization, Indigenous aesthetic expressions, and critical service learning as the basis from which to build a capstone service-learning project that focuses on reconciliation."
- Poo'miikapii: Niitsitapii Approaches to Wellness
Poo'miikapii: Niitsitapii Approaches to Wellness is a four-course graduate for-credit program centered on Niitstitapii (Blackfoot) ways of knowing, being and doing in relation to poo'miikapii (harmony, balance, unity) and drawing on theory and practice in Indigenizing and decolonializing approaches to wellness and counseling.
Niitsitapiisinni: Real Peoples' Way of Life
Niitsitapiisinni: Real Peoples' Way of Life is a four course graduate for-credit program centered in Niitsitapii ways of knowing, being, and doing in relation to aistomatoominniki (coming to know your heart, Blackfoot epistemology; Bastien, 2004), these courses involve in-depth exploration of Niitsi'tapiipohsinni (Blackfoot language), kiipatahpiisinoon (our way of life), and aakahtapiiyiitsiniksiin (old stories) through Niitistapii art and storytelling. This program is designed for educators, school leaders, health care professionals, service providers and other community members who are currently working with or planning to work with Indigenous communities.
Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education (6-Week MOOC)
Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education is an opportunity to engage with Indigenous knowledge keepers, educational leaders, and resources to enhance your understanding and knowledge of practices that advance reconciliation in the places where you live, learn, and work.
Indigenous Canada (12-Week MOOC)
Indigenous Canada "explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations." This 12-week course is for students with an interest in acquiring a basic familiarity with Indigenous/non-Indigenous relationships.
Think Indigenous Podcast: A Special Podcast Mini-Series on Indigenous Education
Writing Symbols Lodge (formerly the Native Centre) has been in existence since 1972 and established as a student services unit since 1988. The Lodge provides "academic, personal and cultural support services and programs to prospective and current [Indigenous students]." The Lodge supports initiatives and projects aimed at supporting and respecting the aspirations, diversity, communities and cultural traditions of Indigenous learners at the University of Calgary. The Lodge, located on the 3rd floor of MacEwan Hall, has a computer lab, study space and ceremonial room and welcomes all members of the campus community.
Tiya Dagumisasiry is an engagement program facilitated by Writing Symbols Lodge intended to provide Indigenous students academic support and leadership training. The program also facilitates field trips, ceremonies, opportunities to learn from traditional knowledge keeps and intercultural capacity building opportunities for non-Indigenous students.
Native Ambassador Post-Secondary Initiative is an Indigenous youth outreach program designed to motivate and empower Indigenous youth to become future leaders in their community.
ucalgarycares Indigenous Leadership and Engagement Program is a collaborative service-learning program meant for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. The program involves the students in experiential learning activities in a First Nation community in Kluane National Park in the Yukon.