A book, a controversy and the beginning of a journey
Happy New Year everyone!
I'm so excited to be starting this newsletter for educators (and friends) who are wanting to learn more about Indigenous Education! Every month I hope to feature resources you might find useful, answer any questions you have, and highlight Indigenous and non-Indigenous people doing good work to inspire us. I'm also eager to hear what you would like to see, so please take a minute to fill out this short survey and give me your feedback about what will be most helpful!
In This Issue:
A Resource (or two) - fatty legs & Goodminds.com
An Issue - Who are we listening to about Joseph Boyden?
An Upcoming Event
Promos
A Learning Opportunity
Who is Angela? What is Listen & Learn?
A Resource (or two)
I often get asked about age-appropriate resources and approaches to teaching about Residential Schools. I think it is important that from the earliest grades we complicate the thinking of our students and not romanticize the relationship between pioneers/settlers and Indigenous peoples at any point in our history. There are a growing number of books, websites and videos to help, and this month I'm excited to read fatty legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton. It is a short chapter book based on a true story about experiences of young people in Residential School, and I'll let you know what I took from it in my next letter. If you've shared fatty legs with your students, let me know how you incorporated it and how it was received, and I'll include your feedback next month!
You'll notice that I linked above to Goodminds.com, my favorite Indigenous bookseller out of Southern Ontario, which I encourage you to check out for your book purchases because I am totally inspired by their fundraising and activism in support of public libraries for Indigenous communities. They also have very knowledgeable staff and a carefully curated selection of books and texts on Indigenous topics.
What are your favorite resources to use with students? Email me your suggestions at angela.nardozi@gmail.com.
An Issue
If you are just emerging from the holiday break (good on you for taking the time!) you might have noticed that Joseph Boyden has been making headlines because an APTN investigation revealed that none of his claims to Indigenous identity checked out.
Here's what I've learned: as a guest on this land, when it comes to Indigenous issues, it is so important to:
(a) notice whose perspectives the mainstream media is relying on
(b) search out for multiple Indigenous voices on a topic
If you are interested in digging deeper you can start by checking out
this post on Vice by Ryan McMahon an Anishinaabe/Metis comedian and writer
this post on Canadaland by Robert Jago from Kwantlen First Nation
and this CBC segment about Indigenous identity featuring Kim TallBear (a member of Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate) and others
Questions for us to consider:
Whose voices are being represented in the media we are consuming about Indigenous communities and issues?
What are good sources to turn to for information beyond mainstream newspapers and stations?
Thanks to Ryan for giving me permission to use his image!
Check out his work at http://www.rmcomedy.com.
I would love to get your feedback about what you want to see in Listen & Learn! Fill out this short survey and let me know what you to see featured!
If you are in Toronto this weekend, Michael White is giving
Clan Teachings at Wychwood Barns.
Michael welcomes both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples who are interested to join him!
Promos
I'm really excited to be offering a range of services for teachers and schools including speaking (for students and teachers), consulting and coaching! If you are interested to learn more email me angela.nardozi@gmail.com.
UBC is starting its online course Reconciliation through Indigenous Education on January 24th! It is free to take, and has some great indepth information if you are looking to explore this subject at a university level. I had a great time TA'ing the course last year - the discussions were fabulous. Click here to register by January 23rd!
Who is Angela?
Angela Nardozi is a guest on Turtle Island who is Italian-Canadian. She has spent almost a decade working alongside Indigenous communities and with non-Indigenous educators. She is a certified teacher and received her Ph.D. in Education from OISE/UT. She is now a consultant and coach.
The purpose of Listen & Learn is to inspire teachers to incorporate Indigenous content in their curriculum, share resources and ideas, create a space for different stories and voices, and to update folks on what Angela is up to!
