Treaty 2 Territory – When envisioning how FNT2T Life Long Learning can support FNT2T schools in Indigenous Education, we often think about land-based learning, language revitalization, cultural teachings, traditional knowledge, First Nations history–and local history.
Most First Nations communities want to research the history of their own community (or already have or are doing so). And most want that history taught to their young people. Many First Nations schools want to have their local history taught and many want students to be able to earn credit when learning their history. First Nations communities (schools) can develop their own local history course for students. Communities and/or schools can compile relevant course material(s), submit it to Manitoba Education for review and approval, and if approved the course becomes a school-initiated course (SIC).
Some schools may already have their local history being offered in schools and some may wish to continue/begin this important work. A few areas to think about when beginning the gathering of information:
- How we came to be here (stories & legends)
- How things used to be
- Our social systems (and government, health, education, economy)
- Land, water, plants & animals in our territory
- Traditional foods (harvesting, preparation & protocol)
- Spirituality & ceremony (stories & legends)
- Our Treaty (signatories, promises, spirit & intent)
- Seasons in our territory (hunting, fishing, trapping, weather etc)
- Leadership timeline
- Traditional map (names) of our territory (stories & legends)
- Our language (local dialect)
- Cultural arts in our community
- Our community vision for the future
Life Long Learning hopes to support FNT2T schools that are embarking on this type of work. It is important work. In her work titled “Supporting Aboriginal Literacy: A Guide for Decolonizing Curricula,” (2009) Seema Ahluwalia writes: “The teaching of Indigenous cultures, languages, and life ways must be done by Indigenous peoples themselves, and must reflect the goals and strategies that emerge from within…[their own] communities and nations” (14). It comes from within.
Last modified: December 14, 2019
