16 Introduction
As you develop curriculum, keep in mind that to decolonize teaching and learning, it is critical that Indigenous voices be brought to the forefront by including Indigenous success stories, Indigenous cultural approaches, and Indigenous-led research. In recent years, there has been much discussion about what counts as an Indigenous perspective and what is and isn’t appropriate to be shared and used. In this section, we explore these issues and provide you with some guidelines to consider when navigating choices about Indigenous content. We will also explore the importance of local knowledge and the role that curriculum developers can play in supporting Indigenous language revitalization.
Purpose of this section
This section is intended to help you recognize and appreciate the diverse sources of Indigenous knowledge. The following topics are included:
- Diversity among Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous sources of knowledge
- Identifying authentic Indigenous resources
- Using Indigenous content appropriately and avoiding cultural appropriation
- Incorporating local land, knowledge, and language into curriculum content
Approximate time: 2 hours, plus additional time for learning languages