Simmering dispute between the colonists vs. Metis, and NWC, The Metis & NWC believed they had more claim the red river area then the colonist. When the 1813 colonist crops failed, under the command of MacDonell he issued a pemmican proclamation to save the colonist from starvation. Metis & NWC relied on selling this product were banned from selling it. Metis & NWC retaliated and harassed the colonist who soon left, soon peace was made with the Metis & NWC under new command Colin Robertson, soon after the colonist returned, and Semple became in charge again, semple attack NWC for the raid by the Metis, who seized a supply of pemmican (Metis viewed it as a reasonable compensation for MacDonell’s Pemmican proclamation) War was declared by semple…
Throughout the course so far, I have been able to gain a greater understanding of the First Nations peoples culture. As the course progresses it is noticed that as we keep going further into the past of the First nation's people, it keeps building on itself, due to the fact that there has been so much history covered up. Through the pieces of the literature studied in class, such as the novel Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese and the poem seven matches by Gord Downie and Jeff Lemire, I have been able to determine how the four major themes within the course, identity, sovereignty, relationships, and challenges are a part of the First Nations culture's past. The First Nations people are struggling with these themes, but are in a pace now where they are working to fix their broken past.…
Weinstein, 2003). Moreover, the text provides an excellent basis for educating equity within a class as it promotes participation for students to study the richness in Aboriginal culture (MCEETYA, 2008). Significantly, the text provides the realistic representations of modern-day racism that can enrich students’ understanding…
Shipp (2013, p.25) discusses that in urban contexts it is important that teachers do not shy away from including Aboriginal perspectives in the classroom just because they think that there are no ‘real Aboriginal’ students in their class. Successful collaboration in education requires teachers who are willing to engage with the local Indigenous community both inside and outside of the school gate. The value of teaching Aboriginal culture, language and studies is vital in integrating history, culture and beliefs into a holistic teaching system. Engagement with the local wider community is imperative so that local Indigenous culture, history, language and knowledge of Country can be incorporated into the everyday curriculum. Narogin (cited in Sarra 2011, p.2) states Indigenous Australians exist holistically within a cultural, historical and social context.…
This past year in particular, I have immersed myself in Aboriginal Education. I have attended numerous workshops put on by the First Nations Education Steering Committee and the Surrey School District, looking at Indian Residential Schools, First Peoples Science, Authentic Resources, and First Peoples Perspectives. I have brought back resources and a wealth of knowledge to share with those around me. This fall at Erma Stephenson Elementary, I was lucky enough to be invited to present at a school based non-instructional day. I had the ability to share resources and address many fears that individuals have with bringing these big ideas and content into their classrooms.…
The importance of meeting this standard cannot be understated, as teachers, being in positions of influence, possess the agency to foster reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians through education. To do this, teachers must challenge the Whiteness and structural racism of the classroom by employing critical pedagogical practices: questioning whose beliefs, values and interests are served by classroom content and practices (Rigney, 2016); using tools of Critical Race Theory to highlight the perspectives of minorities through activities such as reading, analysing and reflecting on counter-stories (Schulz, 2016); and by overall taking a resistance approach to teaching, reflecting the belief of teachers as having the power to be ‘[...] “agents” and schools as sites for the generation of “equitable social change” [...]’ (Tur and Schulz, 2016). Recognising and addressing the White hegemony in education, and its effects on perpetuating interests, values and ideology of this dominant culture, is essential in answering the question of equalising the outcomes of education for Indigenous and non-Indigenous…
First Nations people in Canada comprised the different cultures the six geographical groups. The differences occurred in spiritual beliefs, food resources, and social organization. The first group, the woodlands first nations comprised of independent groups who possessed great courage and skills for hunting. The Iroquoians were excellent farmers and had permanent settlements that enabled them to have democratic systems of government. The Huron-Wendat based their leadership on councils that made laws that governed people.…
The cultural genocide at the hands of the Indian residential school system along with historic and present day oppression and abuse is a blood stain on Canadian culture and government. The government has made steps to atone and reconcile for the destruction it brought upon the First Nations community, however, I do not think enough has been done or ever will be done as long as the oppressor’s government institution is in place. It will ultimately be left up to the First Nations people to come together as a unit to rebuild the structure of their community. Indian Residential School System The Indian residential schools (IRS) were domestic terrorism hubs and locations ordained by the Canadian government and churches which were operated and enforced…
Drew Bednasek (2010), authors of Cultivating Ignorance of Aboriginal Realities, “the principal problem in Aboriginal education in Canada is the education of Canadians” (p.1). Teachers have the ability to teach students in courses, such as social studies and geography, about the history of colonialism, but do not confront historical victimization of Aboriginal peoples by church and state in their courses (Godlewska, Moore, & Bednasek, 2010). Education on the depth of European settlement is poorly executed by teachers and understates the lasting effects residential schools, cultivation of native land, and coercive treaties have had on Aboriginal peoples. Although the history of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples is not something Canadians can take pride in, recognition of the impact of colonialism must be taken in order to sufficiently teach students of European…
Through the progression of this course, various aspects of history were viewed, in addition to concepts that are still associated to the lives of Aboriginal peoples today. While carrying some previous, biased knowledge on the topics discussed, First Nations Studies allowed the development of many ideas as well as the differing perspectives on each. Via the use of assorted reading selections, tutorial discussions, guest speakers, lectures, and a variety of other forms, I was able to take away a unique understanding, different to the one I had prior, which in turn educated me on Indigenous communities. This course attempted to bypass the anger that has been accumulated over the years, and portray information in order to avoid further issues…
textbooks). Not only is it important for schools to address the discrimination in classrooms, it is also important to educate students, starting at a young age, on the Indigenous cultures and on past colonialism so that non-Indigenous students are able to understand the differences, understand the oppression Indigenous persons faced in the past and develop respect for Indigenous cultures. In addition to recognizing and educating students on cultural differences, it is important for the government to provide an increase in funding for Indigenous schools as well as for non-Indigenous schools so that they are able to provide a greater number of resources for Indigenous students. These resources can include, but aren’t limited to, transportation to various institutions, better classroom environment (i.e. no mould or broken desks) and specific programs and clubs. By providing transportation Indigenous students are able to attain more academic opportunities that they may not otherwise have (i.e. post-secondary education).…
For my reconciliation plan I undertook two sets of plans, helping out the Indigenous tutoring from St. Brigid’s College, interviewing them and educating those on the Indigenous history. Throughout my journey of completing my reconciliation plan of helping with the Indigenous tutoring and interviewing them I learnt a lot more than I did before I started. I learnt that there are so many different perspectives on the history of Indigenous people, not only about the stolen generation which many people are educated about but about the way their communities live now and how it has impacted the communities in todays society. I interviewed Indigenous students from St. Brigid’s College in Lesmurdie ranging from the ages of twelve to eight teen, which…
Too many students’ of racially and culturally diverse backgrounds have not been academically successful in comparison to their counterparts for far too long. Many schools are not effective at educating “minority” students. Thus, “on many achievement measures, students of color perform significantly less well than White students, and in some communities the achievement gap is growing rather than shrinking.” In her research on “Literacy and Identity in the Canadian Classroom” Cynthia Medford-Williams asserted that: “This diversity, arising from massive population shifts, is a reality not only in the Canadian classroom but in many other Western countries. Such rapid alterations in student demographics have been accompanied by a cycle of continuing…
The purpose of this essay is to analyse areas of miscommunication in the education system, and to discuss the many issues it causes for Aboriginal peoples. Communication is an exchange of ideas, information or feelings through a number of different mediums. Failure to communicate can impact the relationship between Aboriginal students and their non-Indigenous students and teachers. Language is an area of communication that can be easily misconceived and causes many issues in a multi-language classroom like not understanding the work they are being taught. Culture is very hard to break through because we’re often not aware of our own until we enter another, Aboriginal students have to deal with this daily…
On one’s journey towards becoming a teacher with embodied goals that are still awaiting fruition are all based upon the desire as well as necessity to know one’s students, in order to meet their diversity of needs. As one’s goals are still developing and evolving they are all heading towards the ultimate achievement, which is to promote and enhance learning. The success of our students is mirrored upon ourselves, were teaching provides a path for the students to face the challenges of later life, in becoming articulate as well as globalized citizens of the 21st century. One’s teaching goals are influenced by their interpretation as to the purpose of teaching, not only to be envisioned as a means of regimented education with the final goal…