Engaging all Learners
with Aboriginal
Education
2012
Laura Tait
District Principal, Aboriginal Education
ltait@sd68.bc.ca
Reflective Practice
World View
Pedagogy
Aboriginal Understandings
BIG IDEAS
Teaching and Learning with
Aboriginal Education
Moral Imperative
Relationship
Identity
Walk between TWO Worlds
Collective Ownership
Gerry Dudoward Tsimshian
Laura Tait, District Principal, Aboriginal Education, SD68
Moral Imperative
Aboriginal Ownership
Larger Community
Aboriginal
Building
Relationships
Building
Understanding
Inquiring
Collective Ownership
Reflective Practice
Aboriginal Worldview
Jerry
Whitehead
Aboriginal worldview communicates that values
and beliefs are taught within the framework of
how we relate to Earth.
Indigenous Pedagogy
A Separate Reality
Norval Morrisseau,1984
Identity
Ability to walk in
TWO worlds
Aboriginal students who have the most
success in mainstream education are
those who are strongest in their
Aboriginal identities. Conversely, those
students who indicate a discomfort with or
lack of rootedness in their Aboriginal
identity leave school and struggle
academically.
Shortcomings and Successes:
Understanding and addressing the complex
challenge of Aboriginal education
Relationship
Think Pair Share
Aboriginal Understandings
Learning Progression
Moving Toward the Water
Boarding the Canoe
Raising your Paddle
Journey Toward Deeper
Understanding
Awareness
Developing
Acquiring
Action/ Advocacy
implies a sense of ‘need to
know’
implies a willingness to address
one’s own understandings and
beliefs
implies a demonstration of
knowledge and respect
implies a demonstration of
knowledge, respect and a
commitment to advocacy
Knowledge of
Aboriginal
Peoples and
History on
local, regional
and national
levels
Demonstrates awareness of
Beginning to explore the topics of Demonstrates knowledge of
Local Aboriginal peoples
and territories
Aboriginal languages and
cultures
Indigenous Knowledge
Canadian history as it
pertains to Aboriginal people
Local Aboriginal peoples and
territories
Aboriginal languages and
cultures
Indigenous Knowledge
History and the impact of
colonization
The present day impact of the
Indian Act
The contributions of Aboriginal
people to contemporary society
Beliefs and
Attitudes
towards
Aboriginal
Peoples

Recognizes that
knowledge may need
to be enhanced


Aware that issues exist
around Aboriginal
peoples

Local Aboriginal peoples and
territories
Aboriginal languages and cultures
Indigenous Knowledge
History and the impact of
colonization
The present day impact of the
Indian Act
The contributions of Aboriginal
people to contemporary society
Demonstrates a willingness 
to enhance one’s
knowledge and
understanding
May bring an informed

perspective to current
issues

Demonstrates a

responsibility to enhance
one’s knowledge and
understanding
Possesses an intention to

bring an informed and critical
perspective to current issues
and acts upon those
intentions
Demonstrates respect for
Aboriginal people
Recognizes the
influence of the
dominant culture, while
striving to foster the
Aboriginal Worldview
Demonstrates and
practices a knowledge
and respect for
Indigenous Pedgogy
Provides leadership
to enhance others’
knowledge and
understanding
Seeks out
opportunities to act
on the injustices
toward Aboriginal
people
Raising your Paddle
Raising your Paddle
Acquiring
implies a demonstration of
knowledge and respect
Demonstrates knowledge of
Knowledge of
Aboriginal
Peoples and
History on
local, regional
and national
levels
Beliefs and
Attitudes
towards
Aboriginal
Peoples
Moving Toward the Water
Boarding the Canoe
Raising your Paddle
Awareness
Developing
Acquiring
Action/ Advocacy
implies a sense of ‘need to
know’
implies a willingness to
address one’s own
understandings and beliefs
implies a demonstration of
knowledge and respect
implies a demonstration
of knowledge, respect
and a commitment to
advocacy
Demonstrates awareness
of
 Local Aboriginal
peoples and territories
 Aboriginal languages
and cultures
 Indigenous Knowledge
 Canadian history as it
pertains to Aboriginal
people
Beginning to explore the
topics of
 Local Aboriginal peoples
and territories
 Aboriginal languages and
cultures
 Indigenous Knowledge
 History and the impact of
colonization
 the impact of the Indian Act
on present day Aboriginal
people
 the contributions of
Aboriginal people to
contemporary society
 Recognizes that
 Demonstrates a
knowledge may need to
willingness to enhance
be enhanced
one’s knowledge and
understanding
 Aware that issues exist  May bring an informed
around Aboriginal
perspective to current
peoples
issues
Journey Toward Deeper
Understanding
Local Aboriginal peoples and
territories
Aboriginal languages and cultures
Indigenous Knowledge
History and the impact of
colonization
The impact of the Indian Act on
present day Aboriginal people
The contributions of Aboriginal
people to contemporary society
Demonstrates knowledge of
 Local Aboriginal peoples and  Recognizes the
territories
existence of the
dominant culture and
 Aboriginal languages and
its influences
cultures
 Understands that
 Indigenous Knowledge
there is more than
 History and the impact of
one way to look at
colonization
the world (Aboriginal
 the impact of the Indian Act
Worldview)
on present day Aboriginal
people
 the contributions of
Aboriginal people to
contemporary society
 Recognizes a responsibility
 Provides leadership
to enhance one’s knowledge
to enhance others’
and understanding
knowledge and
understanding
 Possesses an intention to
 Seeks out
bring an informed and critical
opportunities to act
perspective to current issues
on the injustices
and may act upon those
toward Aboriginal
intentions
people
 Demonstrates respect for
Aboriginal people



Demonstrates a responsibility
to enhance one’s knowledge
and understanding
Possesses an intention to bring
an informed and critical
perspective to current issues
and acts upon those intentions
Demonstrates respect for
Aboriginal people
Think Pair Share
AEEA
Aboriginal Education
Enhancement Agreement
SPIRIT of full effort
How do we ensure full effort, by our School District and our
Aboriginal Communities, to work toward building success for
Aboriginal students ?
MIND
BODY
SPIRIT
How can we improve
the Academic
achievement for all
Aboriginal students?
How can we enhance
ALL students’ and
ALL adults’
understanding of
Aboriginal history,
perspectives, people
and the contemporary
context?
How can we enhance
Aboriginal students’
sense of belonging
within schools and their
belief that they can be
successful in the public
education system, while
at the same time
enhancing the belief of
the system that
Aboriginal students can
be more successful?
Think Pair Share
8th FIRE
4 Part Series
CBC learning
http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/8thfire/
The Spirit Has No Colour
http://www.thespirithasnocolour.ca/