Response to Treaty Education
For this weeks blog we are asked to create a response to an email from an intern while considering the following questions:
What is the purpose of teaching Treaty Ed (specifically) or First Nations, Metis, and Inuit (FNMI) content and perspectives (generally) where there are few or no First Nations, Metis, Inuit peoples?
What does it mean for your understanding of curriculum that “we are all treaty people”?
As well as using the resources provided in class:
Cynthia Chamber’s We Are All Treaty People
Dwanye Donald’s Lecture “On What Terms Can We Speak?”
Mike Capello and Claire Kreuger’s Discussion on Treaty Education
Intern Email:
As part of my classes for my three week block I have picked up a Social Studies 30 course. This past week we have been discussing the concept of standard of living and looking at the different standards across Canada. I tried to introduce this concept from the perspective of the First Nations people of Canada and my class was very confused about the topic and in many cases made some racist remarks. I have tried to reintroduce the concept but they continue to treat it as a joke.
Teachers at this school are very lax on the topic of Treaty Education as well as First Nations ways of knowing. I have asked my Coop for advice on Treaty Education and she told me that she does not see the purpose of teaching it at this school because there are no First Nations students. I was wondering if you would have any ideas of how to approach this topic with my class or if you would have any resources to recommend.
Response to the Email:
I am delighted with your approach in implementing such wonderful concept of standard of living and looking at the different standards across Canada. I am dishearted by the fact that teachers from that school or your Coop does not see the importance of Treaty Education. Although there are no First Nation students, i still think it is important to learn about the different standards across Canada as well as the different perspectives. Treaty Education Outcomes and Indicators and Treaty Education includes the importance of learning about the treaties as well as implementing First Nation teachings; It promotes a different perspective in learning, more hands on and builds relationships with the land. Cynthia Chambers claims that “We Are All Treaty People” despite being descendants of white settlers, she brings light to the Western views in her education that is very much still used today as well as not having the knowledge of the land she spent most of her life in until later in life. The way your students reacted to your concept may be due to the lack of knowledge of the Treaty Education and exposure to the history, reactions like that is unavoidable but it’s our job as educators to enlighten them and teach them the values and history of the land. One issue is also connected to the fact that just because there are no First Nation students Treaty Education is ignored, but one good resource to help is a video by Dwayne Donald titled On What Terms can we Speak because he shows that we are all impacted by colonization and the impact it left on their culture. I suggest you go through with your concept using the resources to guide you and help you create discussion in the classroom.