Manitoba launches Indigenous education framework

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This article was published 28/04/2022 (1260 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Forget textbooks — a growing number of students and teachers in Manitoba are learning about the histories, cultures and contemporary lifestyles of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people directly from elders and knowledge keepers.

Manitoba has earmarked $1.6 million to expand an initiative that has seen elders partner with school divisions throughout early 2022 to share teachings on traditional knowledge systems.

“This initiative supports respectful and relational engagement with elders and knowledge keepers to embed Indigenous worldviews across curricula, instruction, assessment and within mental health and well-being programming,” said Education Minister Wayne Ewasko, as he announced the above expansion and launch of a new provincial policy directive Thursday.

During an event at Niji Mahkwa School in Winnipeg, Ewasko told reporters his department’s latest initiatives respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action that identify education as a key part of the reconciliation.

“Mamahtawisiwin: the Wonder We are Born With” — a policy directive and conceptual framework for Indigenous education — aims to support the holistic achievements of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit students by supporting Manitoba teachers in incorporating Indigenous pedagogy, languages and culture into their teaching and practices.

“Indigenous pedagogy is good pedagogy,” said teacher Angela Fey, co-chairwoman of the Indigenous Inclusion Directorate Advisory Council, a group that provides ongoing advice to the education department.

“And Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing benefit everyone.”

The mamahtawisiwin framework is guided by principles emphasizing Indigenous worldviews and values, mutual understanding about the rights of Indigenous peoples, respect for diversity, shared accountability and responsibility, and the importance of using equity and student-focused lenses in the K-12 education system.

The Inninew (Cree) phrase nods to a teaching that means people are born with big hearts and their role is to help others. The name was gifted to the province by an elder in northern Manitoba.

The 73-page document underpins Manitoba Education’s new action plan, which was unveiled last week as the government’s revised road map to reform public schooling in response to the 75 recommendations in the K-12 commission’s 2020 report.

(The action plan replaces the Better Education Starts Today strategy, a document that supported the widely controversial and now-defunct Bill 64.)

It was developed with input from knowledge keepers, students, teachers, superintendents, post-secondary institutes, early childhood educators and community partners.

Myra Laramee, an elder in the Winnipeg School Division, offered a prayer before the news conference Thursday. Laramee later spoke about the importance of teaching students about mother earth being a living entity that must be protected.

“We have some good footprints to make and I believe that that’s going to happen. The children in this school are going to wake up with their children knowing those seven teachings (respect, courage, humility, love, wisdom, honesty and truth),” she said.

A total of 33 schools across 11 divisions were part of the initial knowledge keeper pilot program earlier this year.

High schoolers from Niverville have built relationships with leaders from Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation and Dauphin middle schoolers have taken part in a community pow wow with an elder from Ebb and Flow First Nation, among other projects.

The minister of Indigenous reconciliation and northern affairs touted the announcement Thursday.

Alan Lagimodiere said the initiatives respond to calls to action to improve education attainment among Indigenous youth, develop culturally appropriate curriculum, protect the right to Indigenous languages and enable parents to participate fully in the education of their children.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie