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 the residential school system specifically, this has highlighted the importance of creating a classroom where students feel comfortable. One of the issues that we have discussed is the way in which students in foster care may act out, I would like to learn more about how to teach and support these students in ways that do not draw attention to their home situation. I want my classroom to be an environment where Indigenous voices are heard. It is not always about me teaching the students about Indigenous history and ways of knowing, but giving them the opportunity to hear Indigenous people share their own knowledge and experiences. Many of our most informative and moving lectures were by people who came in and shared their own stories.

I would like to learn more about anti-racist education and white privilege. As a person of European descent I would like to learn more about how to teach while acknowledging my white privilege. White fragility was an important topic in this course, and we discussed how hard it is for some people to admit to benefitting from white privilege. Students need to learn about racism, and it is definitely irresponsible if not impossible to teach students about racism without talking about white privilege. In the future I want to learn teaching strategies to discuss white privilege and racism so students are comfortable taking part in the discussion.

As a future teacher one of my goals is to remain knowledgeable about current Indigenous issues and activism. It is important that Indigenous perspectives and culture are not taught as being left in the past, but as being alive and functioning today. Indigenous people have always resisted colonialism and it is important for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to learn about the history of Indigenous resistance. I would also like to learn more about how Indigenous worldviews and activist work intersects with social movements like feminism and LGBT rights, and how to bring this information to the classroom.

I used this quote by Marian Wright Edelman to guide my personal reconciliation teaching philosophy: “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.” Incorporating Indigenous knowledge into the classroom and supporting Indigenous students creates a better and stronger community, both in and out of the school. To me, teaching for reconciliation is about creating a better community where Indigenous students can thrive in the classroom and non-Indigenous students are given the knowledge they need to better understand Indigenous culture. My portfolio is about becoming a stronger and more empathetic teacher. This means acknowledging my own privilege and constantly striving to learn more and create a stronger, more inclusive school environment.