Potlatch As Pedagogy

In 1884, the Canadian government enacted a ban on the potlatch, the foundational ceremony of the Haida people. The tradition, which determined social structure, transmitted cultural knowledge, and redistributed wealth, was seen as a cultural impediment to the government’s aim of assimilation. The tradition did not die, however; the knowledge of the ceremony was kept alive by the Elders through other events until the ban was lifted. In 1969, a potlatch was held. The occasion: the raising of a totem pole carved by Robert Davidson, the first the community had seen in close to 80 years. From then on, the community publicly reclaimed, from the Elders who remained to share it, the knowledge that has almost been lost. Sara Florence Davidson, Robert’s daughter, would become an educator. Over the course of her own education, she came to see how the traditions of the Haida practiced by her father—holistic, built on relationships, practical, and continuous—could be integrated into contemporary educational practices. From this realization came the roots for this book.

How can Indigenous knowledge systems inform our teaching practices and enhance education? How do we create an education system that embodies an anti-racist approach and equity for all learners? This powerful and engaging resource is for non-Indigenous educators who want to learn more, are new to these conversations, or want to deepen their learning. Some educators may come to this work with some trepidation. You may feel that you are not equipped to engage in Indigenous education, reconciliation, or anti-racism work. You may be anxious about perpetuating misconceptions or stereotypes, making mistakes, or giving offence. In these chapters, I invite you to take a walk and have a conversation with a good mind and a good heart. With over two decades in Indigenous education, author Jo Chrona encourages readers to acknowledge and challenge assumptions, reflect on their own experiences, and envision a more equitable education system for all. Each chapter includes reflection questions to help process the ideas in each chapter suggestions for taking action in both personal and professional spheres of influence recommended resources to read, watch, or listen to for further learning personal reflections and anecdotes from the author on her own learning journey voices of non-Indigenous educators who share their learning and model how to move into, and sit, in places of unknowing and discomfort, so we can examine our own biases and engage in this work in a good way Grounded in the First Peoples Principles of Learning, this comprehensive guide builds on Chrona’s own experiences in British Columbia’s education system to explore how to shape anti-racist and equitable education systems for all. Perfect for reading on your own or with your professional learning community!

This book explores the ways in which transcultural pedagogies can support learning and literacies in critical, creative and socially just ways, highlighting research initiatives from across the globe. Each chapter provides a different and innovative perspective with respect to reimagining language and literacy pedagogies in conjunction with students’ diverse literacies and resources. Presenting a collection of classroom and community-based research, the book addresses the intersections of plurilingualism, identity and transcultural awareness in various contexts, including schools, universities, as well as local and Indigenous communities. These settings have been deliberately chosen to profile the range of research in the field, showcasing transcultural, plurilingual, translanguaging and community-engaged pedagogies, among others.

From the creators of Potlatch as Pedagogy: Learning Through Ceremony, the Sḵ'ad'a Stories series brings intergenerational learning to life. Haida children learn important life lessons from their Elders through real-life situations, cultural traditions, and experiences out on the land. Written by Sḵ'ad'a Stories author Sara Florence Davidson and educator Katya Adamov Ferguson, the Teacher Guide for the Sḵ'ad'a Stories helps teachers engage their students through the lens of intergenerational learning and authentic experiences. This guide outlines the Sḵ'ad'a principles found in the stories shows how to use the Sḵ'ad'a principles in your classroom provides the behind-the-scenes thinking of the authors and illustrator explains the significance of this series as part of Haida cultural resurgence and preservation provides critical perspectives on the impact of colonialism on Haida knowledges includes resources and inspirations for educators This teacher guide is appropriate for all grade levels.

The graphic novel, This Place: 150 Years Retold, includes a variety of historical and contemporary stories that highlight important moments in Indigenous and Canadian history. Written by Anishinaabe educator Christine M'Lot, the Teacher Guide for This Place: 150 Years Retold offers 12 comprehensive lessons that support teachers in introducing students to the unique demographic, historical, and cultural legacy of Indigenous communities and exploring acts of sovereignty and resiliency using circle pedagogy to show the interconnectedness of ideas and topics, primarily in the form of the medicine wheel infusing Indigenous pedagogical practices, such as working with others, seeking holism in understanding, and learning through storytelling engaging students’ understanding and encouraging them to embrace differing worldviews NEW! Incorporating the This Place CBC podcast when studying the graphic novel Lessons in this teacher guide are appropriate to Grades 9–12 English, Grade 11 Global Issues, and Grade 12 Current Topics in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Studies classes. They are also adaptable to relevant university or college courses.

The Surviving the City Teacher Guide provides support for teachers addressing sensitive topics in the classroom (such as racism, caregiver illness, the child welfare system, residential schools, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People) when reading the graphic novels in the Surviving the City series. This teacher guide is meant to be a no-prep resource for educators to use either for individual, stand-alone lessons, or as a complete unit plan. In this teacher guide, Students will be learning about, exploring, researching, and presenting on essential themes that arise in the graphic novel. The lesson plans are formatted using the Activate, Acquire, Apply, and Assess (AAAA) format for ease of use. Activities throughout the lessons infuse Indigenous pedagogical practice. This teacher guide is best suited for use in grades 9–12 classrooms such as Grades 9–12 English, Grade 12 Global Issues, and Grade 12 Current Topics in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Studies.

Indigenous Research Design is an interdisciplinary text that explores how researchers reimagine research paradigms, frameworks, designs, and methods. Building upon the theories and research teachings presented by Indigenous Peoples in Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Research Methodologies, editors Elizabeth Sumida Huaman and Nathan D. Martin present practical formations and applications of Indigenous research for a variety of community, student, professional, and educational projects. With contributions from a broad selection of Indigenous scholars across disciplines and continents, this collection shares research stories and innovations directly linked to Indigenous Peoples’ lived experiences. The contributors ask researchers to rethink how their work is gathered, interpreted, and presented while providing guidance for how Indigenous knowledges and critiques inform each element and stage of the research process. This volume aims to inspire new and Indigenous-led ways of thoughtfully developing research questions, conceptualizing qualitative research paradigms, and collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data. Equipped with chapter learning objectives, critical reflection questions, chapter glossaries, and featuring a foreword written by Manulani Aluli Meyer, this engaging text is a vital addition to the field of research methods and essential reading for any aspiring and established researchers, including university and college students who encounter qualitative and mixed-methods research in their respective disciplines. FEATURES - Centres Indigenous experiences and knowledges in rethinking research methodologies and practices along with offering guidance for recognizing and practicing Indigenous worldviews and epistemologies throughout each stage of the research process - A practical complementary text to the theoretical Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Research Methodologies

This edited volume addresses the pressing imperative to understand and attend to the needs of the fast-growing population of minority students who are increasingly considered "superdiverse" in their cultural, linguistic, and racial backgrounds. Superdiverse learners—including native-born learners (Indigenous and immigrant families), foreign-born immigrant students, and refugees—may fill multiple categories of "diversity" at once. This volume helps pre- and in-service teachers and teacher educators to move beyond the demographic backgrounds of superdiverse learners to consider not only their ways of being, motivations, and social processes, but also the ongoing systemic issues of marginalization and inequity that confront these learners. Challenging existing teaching and learning paradigms in the K-12 North American context, this volume provides new methods and examples for supporting superdiverse learners in a range of settings. Organized around different conceptual underpinnings of superdiversity, contributors identify the knowledge gaps and effective practices in engaging superdiverse learners, families and communities. With cutting-edge research on this growing topic, this text will appeal to researchers, scholars, educators, and graduate students in multilingual education, literacy education, teacher education, and international education.