OLDaily

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
2021/09/30

“Ka-kí-kiskéyihtétan óma, namoya kinwés maka aciyowés pohko óma óta ka-hayayak wasétam askihk, ékwa ka-kakwéy miskétan kiskéyihtamowin, iyinísiwin, kistéyitowin, mina nánisitotatowin kakiya ayisiniwak, ékosi óma kakiya ka-wahkotowak.”

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First Nations Control of First Nations Education
Assembly of First Nations, 2021/09/30

This is a document from 2010 (51 page PDF) but it still occupies a central position on the Assembly of First Nations website on education issues. The premise is simple, and is restated from a 1974 document: "We want education to provide the setting in which our children can develop thefundamental attitudes and values which have an honored place in Indian tradition and culture." It also speaks to education for the rest of Canada: "it is essential that Canadian children of every racial origin have the opportunity during their school days to learn about the history, customs and culture of this country's original inhabitants and first citizens."

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Phyllis Webstad Orange Shirt Day Presentation
Phyllis Webstad, YouTube, 2021/09/30

This is a short (two minute) video. "Orange Shirt day is an annual event held each September 30th in remembrance of the Canadian Residential School system and the impact of this government policy on First Nations. Phyllis Webstad presents her memories of Residential schools and the meaning of Orange Shirt Day." Via BlogTO.

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Indigenous Canada
Paul L. Gareau, University of Alberta, 2021/09/30

You could start today to learn more about Indigenous Canada by enrolling in this free course offered by the University of Alberta through their Coursera MOOC platform. " From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations." It's a 12-week course, requiring one or two hours per week.

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Truth and Reconciliation: Preserving and revitalizing Indigenous languages
Jacquelyn LeBel, Global News, 2021/09/30

One of the more urgent tasks associated with Trust and Reconciliation in Canada is the restoration of Indigenous languages. "The residential school system, among other abuses, denied Indigenous children their culture, with survivors reporting that they were severely punished for speaking their own languages." Unless redressed, the effort to wipe out Indigenous languages will have succeeded. It may well anyway; for example, "there are roughly 20 fluent speakers of the Oneida language left." Still, "data suggests 'that many people, especially young people, are learning Aboriginal languages as second languages.'"

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Begin your learning journey
2021/09/30

This is a resource page set up by the Government of Canada providing access to websites, podcasts, video and learning activities to help people learn more "about the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and histories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples." I applaud the effort. I wouldn't simply give this link to younger learners. It should be thought of as a repository that parents, teachers and instructors can use to augment and enrich in-person or online learning experiences. There's a wide variety of materials link from various sources including (for example) encyclopedias and museums.

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Beyond 94
CBC, 2021/09/30

This is an ongoing website run by the CBC that tracks progress toward the implementation of the 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC). To date (it has just been updated) we stand at 13 complete, 29 projects underway, 32 projects proposed, and 20 not started. Government moves slowly, to be sure, but this to me seems to be very slow. But at least we have this day every year to check on progress. The web page has an interactive display that allows readers to drill down on each recommendation (pictured) and would be a useful teaching aid.

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Calls to Action
First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada, 2021/09/30

Subtitled 'Spirit Bear's Guide to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada', this is presented as a 'child friendly' guide to the TRC's recommendations. The guide (14 page PDF) is well-written and clear, though by 'child friendly' we mean older children, because there's a lot of text. It's best seen "as a youth-guide to the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action." Each recommendation is started in a short clear paragraph and the recommendations are subdivided into clear topic areas following the original report.

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