Teachers hear from national aboriginal icon
Wab Kinew speaks to Yk1 educators about the importance of indigenous content in schools
James Goldie
Northern News Services
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Teachers in the YK1 school district had a professional development day like no other on Friday, with an almost three-hour presentation from one of the country's most recognized aboriginal public figures.
Wab Kinew, left, poses with Scott Willoughby on Friday at a professional development day for Yk1 teachers at Sir John Franklin High School. Kinew spoke of the importance of integrating aboriginal topics and issues into curricula. - James Goldie/NNSL photo
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Wab Kinew - a hip hop artist, radio and television host, and vice-president of Indigenous Affairs at the University of Winnipeg - addressed the crowd of more than 300 local educators at Sir John Franklin High School, providing insights into ways they can better incorporate aboriginal content into their classrooms.
"I don't feel we should only be teaching indigenous knowledge in aboriginal schools, I think everybody in this country should be learning it," he said, which drew applause from the audience.
During his speech, Kinew discussed a wide range of topics from murdered and missing indigenous women to the high numbers of indigenous children in government care. However, the subject he focused on most was the legacy of Canada's residential school system and the truth and reconciliation commission.
He highlighted the TRC's "Call to Action" published earlier this year, which recommends all Canadian schools develop age-appropriate curriculum "on residential schools, treaties, and aboriginal peoples' historical and contemporary contributions to Canada" that would be mandatory for all students.
Although much of his speech focused on longstanding social injustices experienced by aboriginal people in Canada, Kinew said he wasn't asking people to atone for the sins of their parents or to "guilt trip" anyone.
"Yellowknife and the territories have a long history of doing good things when it comes to relationships with indigenous people," he told Yellowknifer following his presentation. "People here should feel good about the history in the region but there's always more to do. There's always a way we can improve things."
Kinew, recognized by many as the host of CBC's 2015 Canada Reads competition, was visiting Yellowknife for the first time.
"The people (here) are super nice," he said.
Scott Willoughby, aboriginal education co-ordinator for Yk1, first contacted Kinew a year ago to request his participation in the event because of his "top credentials" as an educator and aboriginal rights activist.
"His experience in this (field) is one of the best in Canada," said Willoughby. "He really does work with prime ministers and mayors, and he is an advisor to all the governments, so he has a pretty deep insight in this."
Victoria Budgell, who teaches kindergarten at Range Lake North School, said she found Kinew's talk to be inspiring but also affirming.
"I think here in the North there's a big push to implement and integrate our local cultures into our classrooms already," she said.
Budgell said she has an elder from the community who comes in to her class to talk with students, tell stories and make art. She also has worked on class activities with Sheila Stewart, the district's aboriginal language and culture teacher and Dene Kede facilitator.
"For (teachers) who are new to Yellowknife, it's really helpful because she can come in and help them feel more confident when they're implementing something that maybe they're not so familiar with," she said.
