SUNTEP Students Indigenizing Curriculum :
Moving Beyond Beads , Bannock , and Buckskin
By Jennifer Reid-Vandevord , SUNTEP Faculty
Photo credit : Jennifer Reid-Vandevord
Photo ( L-R ): Doug Jarvis , Elsa Ramos-McKenzie , and Crystal Norris , Year 2 SUNTEP at 2015 WestCAST conference in Saskatoon .
The Saskatchewan Curriculum is packed with many opportunities to authentically integrate purposeful First Nations , Métis , and Inuit content and perspectives . On February 19 and 20 , three 2 nd - year students and one faculty from Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program ( SUNTEP – Regina ) had the opportunity to attend and present at the 2015 WestCAST conference in Saskatoon .
Often as teachers , we are uncomfortable or unaware of how to integrate First Nations , Métis , and Inuit content beyond the stereotypical and historical topics . As much as the intentions are good , sometimes we further build stereotypes unknowingly .
Throughout the workshop , we provided hands-on opportunity for participants to work with their outcomes , and in small , commongraded groups to indigenize each subject .
As preservice teachers , each facilitator had examined the Kindergarten to Grade 8 cross curricular outcomes . We indigenized outcomes by going beyond the stereotypical beads , bannock , and buckskin .
The workshop was done collaboratively with the participants as we guided and helped provide the tools to reduce racism and bring awareness to others in the education field .
Each participant walked away with indigenized cross curricular outcomes and the ability to introduce indigenization as a professional development opportunity for their workplaces .
The WestCAST theme was “ Engage . Empower . Inspire .” Accordingly , during this time , we worked together to build a strong , purposeful , and indigenized curriculum . �
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