Faculty Toolkit : Indigenous Inclusion

Welcome to Indigenous Inclusion - Module 4 of 6

Have you been asked to include Indigenous topics into your curriculum? Are you looking for ways of integrating Indigenous history, perspectives, and culture into your lesson plans? Maybe you don’t know where to start, or perhaps you do, but you want some great resources at your fingertips?

You have found the correct place! The next step is to familiarize yourself with the TRC Calls to Action in Education and ask yourself, “What role can I play in bringing these recommendations into action?”

Senator Murray Sinclair on Reconciliation

What to Know Before You Begin

Before you dive deep into the wealth of information here please keep in mind:

It’s all About Relationships. Indigenous Inclusion is not about knowing the most facts, reading the most books, or reaching to try and find ways to indigenize every program. It’s about creating environments to foster relationships. It’s about creating a space to learn, explore, heal, and communicate with a community that has been ignored by the government and mainstream society for years. Most importantly, it’s about teaching future generations to learn and evolve from the wrongs of the past.
It’s About Respect. It’s about learning the difference between western and Indigenous views. It’s about learning to see the beauty in that difference and approaching new and different cultures appropriately, professionally and without judgment.
It’s About Celebrating Indigenous Culture. It’s about making space for Indigenous peoples to engage in cultural activities or re-discover their culture. The best way to learn about any other cultures is to investigate, participate, support and encourage others to with an open mind and heart.
It’s About Creating Meaningful Learning Experiences. It’s about community projects and familiarizing yourself with issues/events that are important to Indigenous communities. Most importantly, it’s about watching and listening.
It’s About Taking the Time to Learn. It’s about learning about the pieces of history that were omitted from public record and acknowledging the difference in the Canadian experience. Furthermore, it’s about working towards closing that gap so that all people have the same experiences and opportunities.