Meaningfully Indigenizing science lessons

Throughout EDCI 403 I have learned many ways of how to bring Indigenous learning into science lessons. My goal when I am teaching and creating my lessons is to Indigenize them in an authentic and respectful way, therefore the following are strategies that I have learned in this class and others that I have learned throughout this program:

-Incorporating Ktunaxa language and words into lessons: something I have found very helpful is using a website called First Voices to help me find various Ktunaxa words. In my nature focussed literacy writing unit plan I will be doing one concept focussed on local plants, this website was very useful as all I had to do was type the English word in and it showed me various Ktunaxa versions of the word to choose from.

Website Link: https://www.firstvoices.com/ktunaxa

-I notice every EDCI 403 class begins with a territory acknowledgement. Territory acknowledgements were something I was a bit nervous about doing as I’ve heard so many different opinions and points of view in terms of how often to do them, what should be said, the appropriate times of doing them etc. Now that I have heard examples of territory acknowledgements and understanding they can be simple but still very meaningful has made me more confident with the aspect of doing this with my own class.

-Using Ktunaxa stories and connecting them to science (there are lots on the life cycle and different plants and animals): There are a vast amount of Ktunaxa stories related that are and can be connected to science. Indigenous peoples including Ktunaxa people have a great amount of knowledge regarding science and offer a lot of resources and stories to learn from.

-Have beginning of class/morning check-ins in a circle: I enjoy class check-ins at the beginning our lessons as it gives people the opportunity to check in and share how they are feeling which in classrooms provides valuable information for the teacher to take into consideration that day. Circle sharing allows everyone to face each other and also gives everyone the opportunity to speak and be heard.

*Photo by Pine Watt on Unsplash