I strongly believe educators today have the responsibility to implement Truth and Reconciliation into their teaching practice. Firstly, Shi-Shi-Etko by Nicola Campbell is a picture book I would use for the primary grades to introduce residential schools. In reading the book, residential schools are not mentioned explicitly, however, it talks about Aboriginal history and the significance of land and family. I feel this could be used to learn about the land, and teach students about respect and understanding. Secondly, I would use the video, “Namwayut: We Are All One,” for the intermediate grades, due to the sensitive subject matter. This video discusses residential schools from a survivor’s perspective and would be a good way to introduce students to the topic of residential schools. After the video, I would get the students to form a circle and I would guide the discussions with thought provoking questions. I would use this video as a hook to lead the class into a mini unit on the topic of residential schools. For a website, I would use the Indian Residential Schools & Reconciliation: Teacher Resource Guide as a resource to find age appropriate lessons, ways to indigenize the learning, and ways to deal with sensitivity. This website is a great resource as it covers many facets of Indigenous learning and teaching and provides teachers with maps and daily schedules of residential schools. I believe all students deserve the right to an education that is based around inclusion and providing all students with equal opportunities to succeed.
References
Campbell, I. N. (2005). Shi-shi-etko. House of Anansi Press. – Book
CBC. (2017, Dec 18). Namwayut: We Are All One. Truth and Reconciliation in Canada [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyVrohwsHX8 – Film
First Nations Education Steering Committee. (2015). Indian Residential Schools & Reconciliation: Teacher Resource Guide. First Nations Education Steering Committee and First Nations Schools Association. http://www.fnesc.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/PUB-LFP-IRSR-5-2015-07-WEB.pdf – Website
Winship, R. A. (1898). What They Say. Journal of Education, 47(22), 339. https://books.google.ca/books?id=tEohAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb#v=onepage&q=alice%20&f=false – Quote