Indigenizing the Curriculum: Local Knowledge

The sacred legends of four First Nations--Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh--have been passed down from generation to generation through the Elders and are integral to the teachings and Oral Traditions of First Nations peoples. These stories link people to the land and to each other, passing on Traditional Knowledge and history. For the first time, these sacred teachings are collected in an anthology of stories willingly shared by the respected storytellers of each nation and adorned with spectacular imagery and art. These legends--which range from creation stories to naming stories--add to our knowledge of ourselves and each other.

First Nations are the fastest growing population in the country. There are thousands upon thousands of young First Nations people growing up today who, together with the kind of individuals whose stories are told in this book, represent a future for this country that is brighter than it has been for a long, long time.--from the foreword by Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, National Chief of the Assembly of First NationsSince 2004, journalist Katherine Palmer Gordon has interviewed dozens of young First Nations people living in British Columbia--artists and community leaders, comedians and consultants, musicians and lawyers, people who are household names and those known only within their own communities. We Are Born with the Songs Inside Us collects sixteen candid stories gleaned from those interviews, stories of people who share an unshakeable belief in the importance of their cultural heritage to their well-being, to their success at what they do, and to their everyday lives.Included are Kim Baird, former chief of the Tsawwassen First Nation; Lisa Webster-Gibson, spoken word artist and rock-and-roll drummer with Delaware-Mohawk and Scottish-Canadian heritage who lives and works on Gabriola Island as an Environmental Assessment Professional; and John Marston (Qap'u'luq), an artist and storyteller from the Chemainus First Nation who learned to carve from his father. "What I put into each piece," he says, in his interview with Gordon, "is 100 percent me." Shattering stereotypes, We Are Born with the Songs Inside Us gathers the thoughts and hopes of young native people living in twenty-first century Canada. Each has a compelling, meaningful story that deserves to be told, understood and, above all, celebrated.

Our Squamish and Lil’wat ancestors and leaders protected and preserved our knowledge systems through practice, rather than the written word. It is by our people’s tenacity, grace and collective memory, passed on from generation to generation, that we maintain an intimate connection to our lands and traditions.
This book reflects a small part of the Ancestors’ teachings that we carry in our hearts and beings. This beautiful collection of photographs and words tells stories of our relationship with the lands and highlight the ancient gifts of cedar carving and weaving, canoe building and textile production as well as the rich traditions of hunting, fishing, and gathering. Through this book, we share legends and spiritual messages that connect our people to the land from ancient times to modern life.

The occurrence of the ice age left BC, Canada approximately 20,000 centuries ago. Scientific research estimates that the earth's orbit and carbon dioxide helped end the ice age. The rising of carbon dioxide helped raise ocean levels which raised sea levels. All of these actions helped end the ice age. As the glaciers melted, plant life resurged; animals began the migration north, sea life emerged. People followed life forms north; they began to search for the lands they had heard of in legends and stories passed down by the ancestors. In the migration north in search of food; freedom to live life in peace and harmony and live in a mild climate, Squamish ancestors continued their search over several generations. Some people settled in North West area of the United States. Young people developed a wanderlust, and a large group continued north.

Jo-ann Archibald worked closely with Coast Salish Elders and storytellers, who shared both traditional and personal life-experience stories, in order to develop ways of bringing storytelling into educational contexts. Indigenous Storywork is the result of this research and it demonstrates how stories have the power to educate and heal the heart, mind, body, and spirit. It builds on the seven principles of respect, responsibility, reciprocity, reverence, holism, interrelatedness, and synergy that form a framework for understanding the characteristics of stories, appreciating the process of storytelling, establishing a receptive learning context, and engaging in holistic meaning-making.

How can Indigenous knowledge systems inform our teaching practices and enhance education? How do we create an education system that embodies an anti-racist approach and equity for all learners? This powerful and engaging resource is for non-Indigenous educators who want to learn more, are new to these conversations, or want to deepen their learning. Some educators may come to this work with some trepidation. You may feel that you are not equipped to engage in Indigenous education, reconciliation, or anti-racism work. You may be anxious about perpetuating misconceptions or stereotypes, making mistakes, or giving offence. In these chapters, I invite you to take a walk and have a conversation with a good mind and a good heart. With over two decades in Indigenous education, author Jo Chrona encourages readers to acknowledge and challenge assumptions, reflect on their own experiences, and envision a more equitable education system for all. Each chapter includes reflection questions to help process the ideas in each chapter suggestions for taking action in both personal and professional spheres of influence recommended resources to read, watch, or listen to for further learning personal reflections and anecdotes from the author on her own learning journey voices of non-Indigenous educators who share their learning and model how to move into, and sit, in places of unknowing and discomfort, so we can examine our own biases and engage in this work in a good way Grounded in the First Peoples Principles of Learning, this comprehensive guide builds on Chrona's own experiences in British Columbia's education system to explore how to shape anti-racist and equitable education systems for all. Perfect for reading on your own or with your professional learning community!