Teachers of Aboriginal students: A Question of Perspectives

Our radio documentary discusses the view from teachers of aboriginal students. Our major focus is the challenge teacher’s face when integrating Aboriginal culture and perspectives into the classroom. We interviewed several teachers and students on the topic. Most of our interviewees wanted to remain anonymous on the radio documentary. However, they will act as some really good connections and resources for us as teachers. Sarah was the UMSU student who was comfortable being recognized in the documentary. In addition to her we interviewed three teachers and a Metis student. Our group members are Carly, Angie, Brianne and Sarah. We also brought our own views and perspectives to the radio documentary. As well, we drew information from the articles in the syllabus from the Teachers of Aboriginal Students section. We also drew information from the survey prepared by the Swampy Cree Tribal Council called, Community Active Members Youth Leadership Survey -2010-2011 Highlights Report.

treaty medal

Articles.

Goulet (2001): “Two teachers of Aboriginal students: Effective practice in sociohistorical realities” in Canadian Journal of Native Education, 25(1): 68-84.

Smith (1999): “Educating inner-city Aboriginal students: the significance of culturally appropriate instruction and parental support” in McGill Journal of Education, 34(2): 155-167. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CC4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmje.mcgill.ca%2Farticle%2Fdownload%2F8475%2F6408&ei=c-QoUof-DePQiwLLk4DABg&usg=AFQjCNHrfEzYHPM6UAxkyLi_UZLRqlrfBg&sig2=UnqbX8czM8WDb_WoGocdSw&bvm=bv.51773540,d.cGE

Canadian Council on Learning (2007) http://www.education.gov.sk.ca/ablkc-k-12-literature-review

Kanu, Y. Teachers' perceptions of the integration of Aboriginal culture into the high school curriculum. Alberta Journal of Educational Research 51, no. 1 (2005): 50-68. http://ajer.synergiesprairies.ca/ajer/index.php/ajer/article/view/498/487

Terry Wotherspoon (2006). Teachers’ Work in Canadian Aboriginal Communities Comparative Education Review Vol. 50, No. 4 (November 2006) (pp. 672-694).http://courses.educ.queensu.ca/foci255/readings/documents/TeachersWorkinCanadianAboriginalCommunitiesReading3.pdf

Swampy Cree Tribal Council:

“Community Active Members Youth Leadership Survey -2010-2011 Highlights Report.”

Songs:

The Drum Song by Winston and Eric Wuttunee

When the Sun Sets Over the World by Winston Wuttunee

Group Members: Carly Russell, Angie Kuhnle, Breanne Berke and Sarah Lenhardt Mair

To Learn More (podcast and radio-Doc)
https://archive.org/details/Group3Mixdown 
https://archive.org/download/Group3Mixdown/group%203%20Mixdown.mp3
 

Radio- Documentary: Aboriginal Perspectives, A New World

In our documentary we identify the importance of Aboriginal perspectives in the classroom and who should be incorporating them. We examined four different educational perspectives, including a reflection on our own personal experiences. During our research we came to an agreement that an Aboriginal perspective is a valuable component of education. This inquiry allowed us to gain a better understanding about what an Aboriginal perspective means, but we were also left with more questions. Join us as we discover the positive and negative aspects of an Aboriginal perspective, it`s integration into the classroom, and what it means to students and teachers.

Producers: Julia Martin, Amy McLeod, Sarah Hawley, and Amanda Acquisto.

Photo Credit: ASC- Migizii Agamik at the U of M Facebook page

Featured on our Radio-Documentary:

Micheline Lesk-  Métis student, in the faculty of education at the University of Manitoba

Karen Boyd- Professor, at the University of Manitoba in the faculty of education

Michelle Wiebe- Student, in the faculty of education at the University of Manitoba

Carl Stone- Advisor, for the Aboriginal Student Centre at the University of Manitoba. 

Music:One Drum By: Leela Gilday,Darling Don’t Cry By: Buffy Sainte Marie,When the Sun Sets Over the World By: Winston Wuttunee.

To Learn More (podcast & Radio Documentary)

https://archive.org/details/AboriginalPerspectives  

https://archive.org/download/AboriginalPerspectives/Aboriginal%20Perspectives.mp3

 

Radio-Documentary: Combating Cultural Discontinuities

Catrina Tomchuk and Matt Duda examine the phenomenon of cultural discontinuity experienced by Aboriginal students in Manitoban schools today in an independently produced radio documentary.  They discuss what cultural discontinuity is and what is being done in the province to deal with this issue.

Featured on the show are interviews with University of Manitoba Professors Dr. Frank Deer and Dr. Yatta Kanu, Dionne Deer (Aboriginal Resource Coordinator for Louis Riel School Division), Dennis Daniels (Executive Director, Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Education Centre), Jim Sinclair (Indian and Métis Friendship Centre), Shirley Delorme-Russell (Culture and Education Resource Coordinator, Louis Riel Institute), and Michael “Redhead” Champagne (founder of Aboriginal Youth Opportunities).  They all lend their expertise to the analysis of cultural discontinuity in Manitoban schools.

In the North End on walk around tour with Michael Champagne

To Learn More (Independent Radio Documentary)

Canadian Indian Residential Schools as “Cultural Genocide” (Radio Documentary)

This is a 30 minute independent radio documentary Canadian Indian Residential Schools as “Cultural Genocide.” We will look at how cultural genocide is defined and how various experts in the field would justify using the term genocide to describe the terrible tragedy that is a part of Canadian history. 

Article 2 of the Genocide Convention states that "genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

(a) Killing members of the group;

(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;

(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;

(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;

(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

From these criteria, we see that the Indian Residential School system could easily be classified as a type of cultural genocide. We also explore the intergenerational effects of the Canadian Residential Schools. It is clear that being removed from your family and placed in these institutions could have a negative impact on your life and on the lives of your children. In addition, we provide the views of some everyday people on the issues surrounding Canadian Indian Residential Schools.  Finally, we offer some suggestions for moving forward from here, such as the promotion of aboriginal culture and awareness of past events.

Sources:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/paul-martin-accuses-residential-schools-of-cultural-genocide-1.1335199

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_genocide

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/bernie-farber/canada-genocide-first-nations_b_4122651.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/10/18/genocide-first-nations-aboriginals-canada-un_n_4123112.html

http://www.wherearethechildren.ca/en/exhibit/impacts.html

http://www.macdonaldlaurier.ca/on-comparing-genocides/

http://caid.ca/

Songs:

Red Revolution by Robert Ouellete as sung by Ila Barker

The Road Before Us by Peter Kater

Inuit Stand Up by Susan Aglukark

Voices of the Wind by Alice Gomez

Pocahontas - World Championship Song 96 by Clayton Chief as performed by Melsin Stone

Produced by: Nicole Buhler, Keirston Smith, Cara Fehr, Sara Pirch

To Learn More (Radio Documentary) 
https://archive.org/details/RadiodocMixdownGroup2 
https://archive.org/download/RadiodocMixdownGroup2/radiodoc_mixdown%20group%202.mp3

Cultural Immersion in Schools (and curriculum integration) Radio Documentary

In our radio program our group discussed the idea of coming into a classroom as non-aboriginal teachers and the challenges of teaching aboriginal students. We looked at the cultural challenges aboriginal students face in western schools. We then talked about possible solutions.and techniques to integrate aboriginal culture in our schools and the western curriculum. Our guest in helping us understand these concepts was Joanne Halas. She spoke to us about these topics as well as what it meant for her to be an ally to aboriginal students. She did this through telling her experiences and stories.

Producers; Tyler Belog, Matt DeGraaf, Scott Church

Music: Deer Dance by Joanne Shenandoah

Kahalu'nyuhe by Joanne Shenandoah

To Learn More (radio program)

https://archive.org/details/2Group9radio  

https://archive.org/download/2Group9radio/2%20%20group9radio.mp3

Cultural Initiatives and Aboriginal Culture: Radio Documentary

By: Steven Schapansky, Erin Rafferty and Jeremy Ritchot

This documentary will be taking a look at aboriginal history with a focus on how the culture amongst Native Americans has evolved over the years. This short documentary will display the ecological perspectives of how the aboriginal cultures have shifted over the years, and how aboriginal peoples are beginning to reconnect with their spiritual roots through community and nature. The presenters that will be leading us through this discussion are Erin Rafferty, Jeremy Ritchot and Steve Schapansky. This documentary will begin by taking a look at the stripping of aboriginal culture through the residential schooling system and how this has lead to the detriment of the community and the ecological underpinnings of aboriginal teachings. Our view will then shift to the aboriginal communities in its present form in Manitoba and how the residential schooling system has impacted the culture as a whole and how we can help with the revival of these communities.

Music: Creek Mary's Blood from the album "Once" by Nightwish. 

To Learn More (Documentary)

https://archive.org/details/Group7RadioDocumentaryFinal

Non-Aboriginal Teachers and the Students' Culture: Radio Documentary

This documentary discussed how teachers do and should take into consideration the lives and culture of Aboriginal students when they are teaching.  There are many students out there, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal that have difficulties at home which could have an impact on their life in school.  This narrative brings together the thoughts of Canada’s own “8^th Fire” host, Wab Kinew, Australian educator Chris Garner, Native Studies professor, Emily Faries, American Indian Specialist, Debra Lehmkul, as well as a Louis Riel School Division teacher, Melodie.

Some of the issues of Aboriginal students and what teachers can do to help them through these issues are discussed in this documentary.  Kinew gives his expert advice on everything from the stress of students to their cultural traditions.  Garner tells us how we can help our students succeed in the classroom, Faries tells us that we need to show the students that they need to be proud of their heritage.  Lastly, Lehmkul and Melodie then showed us how they incorporate Aboriginal traditions into their classrooms.

Produced and Narrated by Craig MacFarlane; Katie Adamson; and Cheri Reimer
Music
1.  Batman Begins theme

2. Poncharelli Young Bird Northern Cree Powwow

3. Buffy Ste-Marie: Darling Don't Cry

4. Eagle and Hawk, Mother Earth (from Indian Summer Music Awards)

5. Ryan d'aoust - York Boat Days

6. Robin Hood Prince of Thieves theme

To Learn More (Documentary)

https://ia601001.us.archive.org/31/items/Group3RadioDocumentary/group%203%20radio%20documentary.mp3