Welcome to my website!
Prior to introducing myself and begin sharing my professional inquiry project, I would like to acknowledge the Indigenous land of Treaty 7--the Siksika (Blackfoot), Kainai (Blood), Piikani (Peigan), Stoney-Nakoda, and Tsuut’ina (Sarcee)--that I grew up on, completed my university education on and am currently teaching on.
It is incredibly important to note that this project could not be completed to the degree it was without the amazing help of Professor Don Shade from the University of Lethbridge Faculty of Education. Don spent countless hours sending me resources via email and through numerous phone calls to ensure I had as many resources as possible. Don shared so much knowledge with me and allowed me to do this project using these 11 Blackfoot values. Thank you, Don!
It is incredibly important to note that this project could not be completed to the degree it was without the amazing help of Professor Don Shade from the University of Lethbridge Faculty of Education. Don spent countless hours sending me resources via email and through numerous phone calls to ensure I had as many resources as possible. Don shared so much knowledge with me and allowed me to do this project using these 11 Blackfoot values. Thank you, Don!
My goal for creating this project:
Inquiry Question: How can Blackfoot Values be used to incorporate FNMI content into the Early Elementary classroom in order to consistently teach Indigenous content to students while also teaching them valuable social and emotional skills?
Rationale:
While learning about how to incorporate FNMI content into the classroom I found the majority of the information I was receiving was about residential schools and their legacy. While teaching the history of residential schools and the intergenerational trauma that is still present today is important, I believe it is also crucial to teach and celebrate Indigenous culture in the classroom throughout the school year. Furthermore, teaching Early Childhood Education, I believe it is important to lay a foundation of what Indigenous culture is, who Indigenous people are, and the importance of Indigenous peoples in regard to Canadian past history and present. One of the best ways to lay this positive foundation is to consistently add FNMI content into the classroom in daily lessons, as well as focused larger lessons once per month.
Throughout my PSIII Internship, teaching Grade 1/2, I decided to explore the way in which Blackfoot values can be incorporated into the Early Elementary classroom in order to teach Indigenous content, while also meeting LA, Health, Social Studies, Art and Physical Education outcomes. Furthermore, I wanted to explore how I could teach necessary social and emotional skills young students must learn through these values, such as how to be a good friend, what is respect and how we show it, what is personal safety, how to be independent, how to share, what kindness is, how to be kind, how to show compassion and more! These Blackfoot values were intended to be introduced at the beginning of each month, however, I found myself introducing them sporadically throughout my four months in order to fit the needs of my students at that point in time. These values were explicitly introduced and frequently referred to in order to ensure I was consistently and effectively incorporating FNMI content, and exposing the students to as much as possible! Alongside explicit lessons and frequent reference to these values, students were also given different challenges to complete about the values. Some examples include: trying something at least two times before asking a teacher for help, in order to practice Aksitoiyipaitapiiysiini, being able to take on tasks independently; treat others how you want to be treated to practice Innakotsiiysinni, respect for others; seeing how many ways we can 'fill each other's buckets' per week to practice Kimmapiiypitsinni, kindness and compassion; and participating in an 18 day gratitude challenge in order to practice Aatsimoyihkaan, prayer. My students took these challenges on and were incredibly excited to learn everything they could about the Blackfoot people and their values. This project was an incredible rewarding experience for me, as I was able to begin teaching my students about the Indigenous land we live on, the Indigenous people on that land and the values that they have that we can learn so much from!
Throughout my website you will be able to explore my method and results of this project, a short description of each Blackfoot Value with ideas of how they can be incorporated into an Early Elementary classroom, a lesson plan for each value (some of which I used in my classroom) and a list of virtual and physical Indigenous resources for educators. The Blackfoot values I used and have been referring to can be easily changed to accurately and appropriately fit the area in which a teacher is teaching. As we are in Treaty 7 territory, using Blackfoot values is the most appropriate, as it allows students to connect and recognize the Indigenous culture that is present where they live. The Seven Sacred Teachings could also be used, instead of Blackfoot values.
Rationale:
While learning about how to incorporate FNMI content into the classroom I found the majority of the information I was receiving was about residential schools and their legacy. While teaching the history of residential schools and the intergenerational trauma that is still present today is important, I believe it is also crucial to teach and celebrate Indigenous culture in the classroom throughout the school year. Furthermore, teaching Early Childhood Education, I believe it is important to lay a foundation of what Indigenous culture is, who Indigenous people are, and the importance of Indigenous peoples in regard to Canadian past history and present. One of the best ways to lay this positive foundation is to consistently add FNMI content into the classroom in daily lessons, as well as focused larger lessons once per month.
Throughout my PSIII Internship, teaching Grade 1/2, I decided to explore the way in which Blackfoot values can be incorporated into the Early Elementary classroom in order to teach Indigenous content, while also meeting LA, Health, Social Studies, Art and Physical Education outcomes. Furthermore, I wanted to explore how I could teach necessary social and emotional skills young students must learn through these values, such as how to be a good friend, what is respect and how we show it, what is personal safety, how to be independent, how to share, what kindness is, how to be kind, how to show compassion and more! These Blackfoot values were intended to be introduced at the beginning of each month, however, I found myself introducing them sporadically throughout my four months in order to fit the needs of my students at that point in time. These values were explicitly introduced and frequently referred to in order to ensure I was consistently and effectively incorporating FNMI content, and exposing the students to as much as possible! Alongside explicit lessons and frequent reference to these values, students were also given different challenges to complete about the values. Some examples include: trying something at least two times before asking a teacher for help, in order to practice Aksitoiyipaitapiiysiini, being able to take on tasks independently; treat others how you want to be treated to practice Innakotsiiysinni, respect for others; seeing how many ways we can 'fill each other's buckets' per week to practice Kimmapiiypitsinni, kindness and compassion; and participating in an 18 day gratitude challenge in order to practice Aatsimoyihkaan, prayer. My students took these challenges on and were incredibly excited to learn everything they could about the Blackfoot people and their values. This project was an incredible rewarding experience for me, as I was able to begin teaching my students about the Indigenous land we live on, the Indigenous people on that land and the values that they have that we can learn so much from!
Throughout my website you will be able to explore my method and results of this project, a short description of each Blackfoot Value with ideas of how they can be incorporated into an Early Elementary classroom, a lesson plan for each value (some of which I used in my classroom) and a list of virtual and physical Indigenous resources for educators. The Blackfoot values I used and have been referring to can be easily changed to accurately and appropriately fit the area in which a teacher is teaching. As we are in Treaty 7 territory, using Blackfoot values is the most appropriate, as it allows students to connect and recognize the Indigenous culture that is present where they live. The Seven Sacred Teachings could also be used, instead of Blackfoot values.