Resources for Teacher Education Instructors
Deepening Knowledge, Enhancing Instruction: Including Aboriginal Worldviews and Ways of Knowing in Teacher Education
The pilot lessons included in this section were written by Dr. Nicole Bell in her role as consultant to the Deepening Knowledge Project. Dr Bell is Anishnaabe from Kitigan Zibi First Nation and is from the Bear Clan. She is presently living in Burleigh Falls, just north of Peterborough. A grassroots community worker and the founder of Anishnaabe Bimaadiziwin Cultural Healing and Learning Program, (an Anishnaabe culture based school for Aboriginal children from Kindergarten to grade 12), she is also the mother of five boys. Dr. Bell is professor of education at Trent University. These lessons were developed using the course expectations for both Foundation and Curriculum and Instruction Courses of the Initial Teacher Education programme at OISE.
To view a video of Dr. Bell's message about the importance of Aboriginal education, click on her image below. (48:15 mins) Dr. Bell's chart of Indigenous Infusion at OISE can be found here.
Dr. Nicole Bell, Professor of Education, Trent University
Pilot Lessons for Teacher Education Seminars
(The link to the following downloads will appear in the bottom left hand side of your browser.)
Pilot Lesson for Psychology
Lesson purpose: "To assist Teacher Candidates in understanding the historical trauma experienced by the First Peoples of Canada and its effects on their contemporary lives. A specific examination of ‘ethnostress’ provides insight into the needs of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students in public schools."
Pilot Lesson for Psychology - Human Development
Lesson purpose: "To assist Teacher Candidates in understanding the Anishinaabe perspective on human development. To challenge Teacher Candidates to appreciate that each culture has teachings/theories about human development and that for Indigenous people it is often articulated with circularity. This lesson must occur after other human development theories/models have been explored."
Pilot Lesson on Restorative Justice
Lesson purpose: "To assist Teacher Candidates in understanding the Anishinaabe perspective on restorative practice. To challenge Teacher Candidates to appreciate that each culture has teachings/theories about human interaction and that for Indigenous people it is often fundamental to ensure healthy relationships are maintained or restored."
Pilot Lesson for Social Studies
Lesson purpose: "For Teacher Candidates to 'identify and develop practices that reflect an equitable, inclusive approach to learning' (Social Studies course outline) by focusing on equitable and inclusive learning strategies for First Nation, Métis and Inuit learners through examining case studies. For Teacher Candidates to “critically analyze Social Studies resources and use appropriate resources to support instructional strategies” (Social Studies course outline) by exploring bias and its applications to resources about First Nation, Métis, and Inuit people."
This lesson includes discussion of a letter written by the mother of a First Nation child, in form of an open letter to her son's teacher. The letter originally appeared as an article the Northian Newsletter and is entitled, “Respect My Child: He Has A Right To Be Himself ”.
Books, Non-Fiction
Bridging Cultures: Indigenous and Scientific Ways of Knowing Nature
by Glen Aikenhead and Herman Michell, 2012.
A great resource for teachers of science who want to explore ways of incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing the natural world into their science curriculum.
Addiional Teacher Education Resources
Integrating Aboriginal Teaching and Values into the Classroom
Research Monograph #11, by Dr. Pamela Toulouse
This monograph is part of the research-into-practice series produced by a partnership between The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat and the Ontario Association of Deans of Education. It discusses how schools can support Aboriginal education.
Talking Together and Walking Together
Although this resource was developed for teacher educators in Alberta, and the knowledges that are used are particular to the First Nations and Metis groups of that land, many of the activities can be successfully used with teacher candidates and practicing teachers in Ontario.
Lessons plans provided in Talking Together are supported by visual presentations in Walking Together.