Indigenous Principles
of Learning
Indigenous Principles of Learning

Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the
self, the family, the community, the land, the
spirits, and the ancestors.

Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective,
experiential, and relational (focused on
connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a
sense of place).

Learning involves recognizing the consequences
of one’s actions.

Learning involves generational roles and responsibilities.

Learning recognizes the role of Indigenous knowledge.

Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story.

Learning involves patience and time.

Learning requires exploration of one’s identity.

Learning involves recognizing that some knowledge is
sacred and only shared with permission and/or in
certain situations.
Reflective Practice
Moral Imperative
Voice
World View
Indigenous Pedagogy
Aboriginal Understandings
BIG IDEAS
Teaching and Learning with
Aboriginal Education
Relationship
Identity
Walk between TWO Worlds
Collective Ownership
Gerry Dudoward Tsimshian
Laura Tait, District Principal, Aboriginal Education, SD68
Moral Imperative
Collective Ownership
Aboriginal Ownership
Larger Community
Aboriginal
Building
Relationships
Building
Understanding
Inquiring
Collective Ownership
Reflective Practice
Aboriginal Worldview
Indigenous Pedagogy
Voice
Aboriginal World View
Indigenous Pedagogy
Aboriginal Worldview
Indigenous Pedagogy
Jerry
Whitehead
Aboriginal worldview communicates that values
and beliefs are taught within the framework of
how we relate to Earth.
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
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 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
Demonstrates knowledge of
Moving Toward the Water
Knowledge of
Aboriginal
Peoples and
History on
local, regional
and national
levels
Beliefs and
Attitudes
towards
Aboriginal
Peoples
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
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
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
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
Improving… educational outcomes will
require more than anything else
patience and the willingness to risk
being wrong, learning from failure
and trying again; it will require a great
deal of observation listening, and
critical thought
In essence, reforming Aboriginal
Education for Aboriginal students
requires those in charge of education
to become students again
themselves.
A Separate Reality
Norval Morrisseau,1984