How do you not see your people in these Indigenous youth?’: Couple working to decolonize classrooms – CBC

Erin Goodpipe, Ben Ironstand bring Indigenous knowledge and experience from their own backgrounds to classes

Apr 24, 2019

Ben Ironstand stands before a group of Grade 11 and 12 students, showing them how to use an axe, a saw and clamps to make wooden bow staves. Over the course of the hour, students will work on beading moccasin vamps and sewing red ribbon skirts.

The Anishnaabe educator is leading a “nation building” exercise at Regina’s Thom Collegiate, to teach students about Indigenous history and treaties. As time goes on, the students will have created strong “nations” within their classroom, complete with flags, songs and chants, and their own culture conveyed through art.

Little do they know at the end of the semester the art they worked so hard on will be taken from them, and their nations dismantled. It is meant to be a hands-on teaching tool.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/indigenous-couple-decolonize-classrooms-regina-1.5100973