In late December 2016, Dr. Gale Russell was invited by the Student
Achievement Support Unit within the Manitoba Ministry of Education to
join their second Mamtowisiwin session that was focused on supporting the
achievement of Aboriginal students in the area of numeracy. By the end of her
first conversation with the Ministry representatives, the invitation had extended
from presenting on the first day of the two-day event, to offering a two-day
workshop.
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Gale accepted the invitation, and on February 8 and 9, 2017 joined with over
140 school division directors, mathematics consultants/superintendents,
Aboriginal consultants/superintendents, Manitoba Ministry of Education
personnel, principals, vice-principals, teachers, and preservice teachers. Russell
says, “It was a great two days, filled with lots of exploration and discussion of
diverse, yet interconnected topics including: mathematics—what it is, what it
could be, and what it should be; the Traditional Western and an Indigenous
worldview, supporting Aboriginal students in mathematics, supporting all
students in mathematics, and how to ‘deal with’ systemic factors beyond their
control (such as standardized testing and grading policies.) I enjoyed two days
of seriousness, laughter, and even tears. And, everyone did their homework–
both reading articles and counting squares. It was also a great pleasure to meet
and work with the invited Elder Florence Paynter, a retired educator and scholar,
who shared many stories and much wisdom with the group.”
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Since the workshop, Russell has been regularly receiving emails from attendees
with specific and general questions; as well, she received an invitation to join
with the Manitoba Association of Mathematics Teachers on their PD day in
October. 2017. Gale happily accepted this invitation, and looks forward to yet
another experience of deep insights, thought-provoking discussions, and lessons
to be learned, challenged, and unlearned.
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The Teaching Preparation Centre's coordinator, Keith Adolph, arranged to have
Photo Journalist Daniella Zalcman, author of Signs of Your Identity, present on
Friday, January 27 about her project in which Saskatchewan Indian residential
school survivors are portrayed through multiple exposure portraits. This work
was the recipient of the 2016 FotoEvidence Book Award. On January 30,
Danielle returned to moderate a panel discussion with five residential school
survivors (Rosalie Sewap, Audrey Eyahpase, Janet Dufour, Selina Brittain,
and Leona Wolf) about the effects of residential schooling on their lives. The
stories of survivors were moving and inspirational. The survivors challenged
participants to assist in finding solutions to the ongoing removal of Indigenous
children from their families.
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Dr. Fatima Pirbhai-Illich and Dr. Shauneen Pete (Faculty of Education) co-
edited a book with Dr. Fran Martin from University of Exeter entitled Culturally
Responsive Pedagogy: Working Towards Decolonization, Indigeneity and
Interculturalism. This book was launched March 10 at University of Exeter as
part of the Decolonizing Teacher Education seminar.
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A Michif 100 language course is now being offered to Saskatchewan Urban
Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP) Regina students. SUNTEP Regina
Coordinator Janice Thompson says, “What makes our program unique and
distinct is that we are the first post-secondary institution to offer [the Michif]
language course to our students.” (See page 10)
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