Education News Fall2015/Winter 2016 | Page 14

on Aboriginal peoples ( for instance , the Treaties , the Indian Act , Indian Residential Schools and the Sixties Scoop ). You can learn more about the blanket exercise at http :// kairosblanketexercise . org / about /
# TreatyEdCamp participants experience the Blanket Exercise
The first # TreatyEdCamp was held November 7 , at the Faculty of Education , University of Regina . # TreatyEdCamp is free professional development by teachers for teachers focused on Treaty Education . Over 200 teachers and preservice teachers participated in four concurrent sessions , which were led by both teachers and preservice teachers . There were many student volunteers helping out , contributing to the success of the event .
The day began with a welcome and acknowledgement of Treaty 4 territory by UR S . T . A . R . S . ( Student Teachers Anti-Racist / Anti-Oppressive Society ) organizers : Katia Hildebrandt , Meagan

FIRST # TREATYEDCAMP A SUCCESS

Dobson , Raquel Bellefleur , and Michael Cappello . After receiving a gift of tobacco , Elder Noel Starblanket offered the opening prayer and Michael Desjarlais performed with song and drum . Dean Jennifer Tupper also welcomed the group , taking a group photo to tweet out using the hashtag # treatyedcamp , where participants were posting responsively throughout the day . Then the group split into five groups : A female pipe ceremony was held in the Teaching Preparation Centre , and four concurrent Blanket Exercises were offered to participants not attending the pipe ceremony . The Blanket Exercise is a powerful demonstration of the effects of historical Canadian events / policies
Following the pipe ceremony and Blanket Exercises , participants attended their choice of presentations in four concurrent sessions . A list of presenters and resources can be found online at : www . bitly . com / treatyed
MLA and NDP Deputy Leader Trent Wotherspoon recognized the # TreatyEdCamp in the legislature on November 19 . The following is the transcript from the sitting :
On November 4th , the U of R [ University of Regina ] hosted a progressive and impressive learning opportunity for teachers here in Saskatchewan . The Treaty Edcamp was a professional development event organized by the U of R chapter of the Student Teachers Anti-Racist / Anti-Oppressive Society with the support of the Faculty of Education and Dean , Dr . Jennifer Tupper . We know how important treaty education is for our province . Every acre is covered by treaty and every resident is party to the treaty .
There were more than 30 presenters leading the discussions about how to incorporate treaty education into classrooms , creating a rich learning opportunity . Also impressive were the 250 teachers and students from across Saskatchewan that came to Regina to attend the camp on their own time on a Saturday . Some sessions focused on how to incorporate the treaties into math and science ; others focused on strategies for talking about dark parts of our history with young students — all important topics for reconciliation in our province .
See more photos at https :// flic . kr / s / aHskoVWFRk
And so I ask all members to join me in thanking Meagan Dobson , Katia Hildebrandt , Raquel Bellefleur for their work in organizing this conference and in recognizing the important work being done by students , teachers , elders , professors , educators , and administrators across our province to ensure that every student in Saskatchewan learns how important treaties have been in shaping Saskatchewan ’ s past and the fundamental role they must play in our province ’ s future if Saskatchewan is going to reach its full potential . We are , after all , all treaty people . Thank you , Mr . Speaker .”
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