The courses I have taken in this program are Indigenous Ways: Pedagogies and Practices; Food, Art and Community Empowerment; Foundations of Human Rights and Social Justice; Problem Solving in the Field: Study Techniques and Methods; Settler Colonialism: Decolonization and Responsibility; Body Rights: Systems and Social Movements; Practicum; Genocide in the 20th Ce; Risk Place and Social Justice; E-portfolio.
The one assignment I would like to reflect on is the journaling we did in Indigenous Ways: Pedagogies and Practices. This assignment allowed us to reflect on our weekly readings through weekly journal entries that we handed in in three separate files. It was a way to digest what we have learned. It allowed a space for deep thought and connection to the topics of the week and it was here that I learned so much about myself and my families experience with Indigenous racism and colonialism. I had moments of reflection that made everything in my family make sense. I took on this assignment in a way where I was honest, open and transparent with my learning. I’ve added PDF copies.
If I was to pick one reading that spoke to me it would be from Unsettling Canada: A National Wake-up call, specifically chapter 4: Native Youth in Action from the course Settler Colonialism: Decolonization and Responsibility. This chapter created feelings of anger and sadness. Learning about the education of Indigenous children was appalling. The push from the Canadian education system to force Indigenous children to attend western education was another attempt at assimilation. There were no Indigenous classes taught in the Western schooling system for me growing up and I feel that the government owes so much more to the Indigenous population following years of colonialism and assimilation.
Manuel, Arthur & Grand Chief, Derrickson, Ronald M. (2021). Unsettling Canada: A National Wake-up Call. Between the Lines.