Looking for some feedback from Indigenous people who might have gone to school in urban Alberta :)
Hi everyone,
I’m a new junior high teacher in Alberta (drama, social studies, and ELA), and I’m working to build a classroom that meaningfully and respectfully includes Indigenous perspectives! I also want to acknowledge that I may have a higher Indigenous student population in some of my classes, so it’s especially important to me that what I do is thoughtful, accurate, and not tokenistic. I’d really appreciate hearing from Indigenous people!
Looking back on your own schooling, what do you wish you had seen more of in your classroom? If you’re open to sharing, I’m especially interested in:
-What authentic representation felt like (or would have felt like)
-Books, stories, or media that actually reflected Indigenous voices well
-How Indigenous history and contemporary issues were taught—or should have been taught
-Ways teachers can include Indigenous perspectives respectfully across subjects like drama, social studies, and language learning
-Anything you wish educators understood before trying to “include” Indigenous content
I recognize there are many different Nations and experiences, and I’m grateful for any perspectives people are willing to share. Thank you for taking the time to help me learn and improve as an educator!