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Locating Myself in Reconciliation

My name is Cassidy Serhienko and I am a second year education student at the University of Saskatchewan. I chose to pursue my degree at the University of Saskatchewan because it is close to home and they recently restructured the program to be direct entry and include more diverse class options and in-school placements. I have wanted to be a teacher for my entire life, I always enjoyed school and I love the school environment. Education has always been very important to me and pursuing a career in education has been a lifelong goal of mine. I always had very good teachers who supported me and my classmates throughout our school careers and they have inspired me to do the same for my students. After starting University and taking Indigenous Studies classes and Teaching for Reconciliation classes I can see more clearly all the ways that the school system was set up for me to succeed. I flourished in school, not only because of the type of learner I am but because my history and per...
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My Reconciliation Teaching Philosophy

“Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.” This is a quote from American activist Marian Wright Edelman. Edelman dedicated her life to fighting for civil rights and the rights of children. While this quote is not directly about reconciliation, I think that the spirit of the quote is similar to the spirit of teaching for reconciliation. Incorporating reconciliation into the classroom ensures that Indigenous students are given greater opportunities for success and non-Indigenous students are given the tools to better understand Indigenous culture and communities. Ensuring that reconciliation is a critical part of education will strengthen Indigenous communities and the bonds between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities . I think one of the most important parts of reconciliation is a commitment to teaching about Indigenous history. In the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, all of the...
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A List of Resources to Aid Teaching Towards Reconciliation

High School English and Social Studies   Lesson and Unit Plan Ideas 1.T he Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie published September 17, 2007. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/693208.The_Absolutely_True_Diary_of_a_Part_Time_Indian?ac=1&from_search=true This is a young adult novel written by Indigenous author Sherman Alexie and is based on his own experiences. It is about a teenage boy named Junior who leaves the school on his reservation to attend the all-white town high school. Junior deals with racism as his new school and anger from his friends, family and community back home for leaving. 2. Smoke Signals (1998) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcXDGHLh5qA (trailer) Smoke Signals is an independent film made by an entirely Indigenous cast and crew, starring Adam Beach. The film follows Thomas and Victor as they journey from their Idaho reservation to collect Victor’s father’s ashes in Phoenix. Along the way, Thomas and Victor ar...
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My Future Reconciliation Goals

One of my goals following the completion of this course is to remain committed to incorporating Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into my future classroom. Though it is included in the curriculum, it is also very easy to overlook or ignore. The long lasting effects of residential schools and the 60’s Scoop is an issue that I do not think is focused on satisfactorily in the curriculum. As an issue that affects both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people it should certainly receive more attention at all grade levels. As a teacher it is my job to make sure that Indigenous perspectives are always included and treated with equal respect to European worldviews. This course focused on why it was important to include Indigenous knowledge and teaching strategies in the classroom and in the future I would like to learn more about how to actually implement them in the classroom. We have discussed many of the modern problems that Indigenous students face as a result of colonization and t...
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