Over the past week, 100 Indigenous educators, thought leaders and representatives of education authorities across Canada convened to set the stage for systemic change in Indigenous land-based education. The gatherings were hosted by the Actua network, a leader in land-based science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.
As parents and educators nationwide struggle with how to make education work in a pandemic environment, Indigenous students, particularly in northern remote parts of the country, have headed back to the land. As Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers take the lead, there is an opportunity to work with Indigenous communities, education authorities, industry and post-secondary institutions in reshaping the classroom of the future.
Actua supports a network of university and college-based members across the country working to engage Indigenous and other youth in STEM programming. Actua played a leadership role in hosting a virtual national forum on Indigenous land-based education.
The national forum presented the outcomes of a series of seven regional roundtable events on Indigenous land-based STEM education. More than 100 thought leaders, Indigenous educators, representatives of education authorities and practitioners of land-based education across Canada set the groundwork for what is hoped will result in vastly improved educational outcomes for Indigenous students and a real path forward towards reconciliation.
According to Acuta, outcomes of the discussions were clear.
"Land-based learning, grounded in Indigenous knowledge provides Indigenous students with a sense of pride in their identity and confidence that the knowledge and perspectives of their culture are not only validated, but also valued," explains Doug Dokis, Actua's director of Indigenous Youth in STEM (InSTEM) program.
"There must be a recognition and acceptance that Indigenous and western science educational pedagogies do not need to be in opposition to one another."
Pam Damoff, MP for Oakville North-Burlington and parliamentary secretary to the minister of Indigenous Services opened the national forum.
"The Government of Canada recognizes the critical importance of land-based education and combining Traditional Indigenous knowledge with western science," said Damoff.
"We are committed to working collaboratively with communities to ensure that all Indigenous students receive a culturally-responsive, high-quality education that improves student outcomes while respecting the principle of Indigenous control of education through the development and implementation of innovative education pilot programs related to STEM, land-based learning and Indigenous language and culture."
"Indigenous perspectives play a critical role in the understanding of major issues like climate change, food sustainability, clean water and air and sustainable development. This model of learning can prepare Indigenous students and all students for their future roles as leaders, innovators, and drivers of social and economic prosperity in their own communities," says Jennifer Flanagan, president and CEO of Actua.
"What we heard was that there is a strong national consensus on the value of Indigenous-led land-based STEM education, and there is a critical role to play at the federal and provincial levels of government, with industry and with communities and youth to build systemic change in the way education is experienced in classrooms across Canada," says Flanagan.
