Creating a supportive classroom environment is crucial for fostering trust and inclusivity, particularly for Indigenous students who may be dealing with intergenerational trauma from historical educational practices.
Recognising that a traditional test at the end of the unit may not be the best method for students to show their learning is important for educators. Students may be better served creating an artefact or a painting, or engaging in outdoor education as a way to connect their learning to their traditions or cultures.
Festivals
Within the school, students from a variety of classes could work together to plan a festival that celebrates indigenous culture. It could be an assessment of sorts where students must work with one another to put together a day for the whole school to learn from and participate in.
Accommodations and Modifications
Not only for our indigenous students, but also for our non-indigenous students, it is important to remove the stigma surrounding special needs. Education is not one size fits all, there is not one way to learn and we can all learn from one another. Diversity builds strength and we as educators need to work to allow our students to understand this.
Special Equipment
Food
Hunger is an increasing issue for both our indigenous
and non-indigenous students. In the experience of some of our group members, some schools have developed an Indigenous Gathering Space. In this space their is a kitchen where the Indigenous students and indigenous leaders often go to cook and prepare traditional meals. They always share these meals and offer meals to non-indigenous students as well. This solves the issue of hunger and builds community.
Guest Speakers
Bring in Indigenous speakers from the community as
guest speakers in the classroom. Allow them the opportunity to talk to your indigenous and non-indigenous students and enrich the community in the classroom.
Preservation of Indigenous Culture
We as educators can bring indigenous teachings and artefacts
into the classroom and use them during lessons. Bringing these artefacts and materials into the room that are traditional to indigenous culture can allow for a greater connect between Ontario Curriculum and the traditional teachings of indigenous peoples.
More Time
At Home
Students may require additional time and extended deadlines to complete assignments due to circumstances of their home lives. It is important not to punish our students academically as a result of their social struggles. Especially with parents who may have suffered abuse or trauma as a result of the school system, it is possible that a priority is not being placed on school work at home.
In Class
Students who are not used to learning in a traditional school classroom may struggle with processing and consolidation of new information. For this reason they may require extra time on in class assignments, new lessons, or assessments.
Preferential Seating/Classroom Environment
Inclusive and Supportive Environment
Parental involvement and contact with parents is also critical in building trust with the indigenous community. As teachers we should introduce ourselves to all parents early in the semester to increase parental confidence in a school system that at one time, was a traumatising experience for the community.
We must acknowledge the social issues the child faces outside of our classrooms. Our indigenous students, not unlike other students in our schools, face issues at home which could hinder their performance in classes. We must understand these issues and seek to make the classroom a place where they feel safe and can thrive despite the issues they face outside of school.
Indigenous students could be suffering inter generational trauma from residential schools there parents or grandparents may have attended. This could result in a lack of trust of teachers and the system. Therefore, as educators we must create an environment where these students feel safe and included.
Talking Ciricle
The talking circle, or a larger group seating arrangement
allows for learning where each student has an individual voice for all in the room to hear.
Rows and Pairs
Students may struggle sitting in rows or in pairs in
the classroom, as this was the traditional seating in residential schools.
Different Teaching Strategies
Universal Design For Learning
We as teachers need to be flexible and provide a wide
range of opportunities for students to display their learning in a way that plays to their strengths and their interests.
Learning Styles
A Kinesthetic approach may benefit indigenous students
as it would be effective in allowing them to derive meaning and understanding of course content from images and activities.
Differentiated Instruction
It is important as educators for us to make the effort to
learn about an embrace the culture of our indigenous students. These students are likely accustomed to a different way of teaching and learning.
