The Importance of Place-Based Learning

The Importance of Place-Based Learning

Topic 5 – The Importance of Place-Based Learning

Indigenous pedagogies connect learning to a specific place, and thus knowledge is situated in relationship to a location, experience, and group of people. For curriculum developers, this means creating opportunities to learn about the local place and to learn in connection to the local place.

In 2016, the Greater Essex County District school board was able to provide a group of First Nation, Metis and Inuit students an opportunity to experience the Indigenous pedagogies such as role modelling, hands-on experience, science, engineering and storytelling “Indigegogies” through the Nmaachihna Enviro-Education centre. See the video that takes you on a journey to this educational experience:
Nmaachihna – “We are going home” [8:15 min]

This is shared with you in the hopes that others may be inspired to visit or create other Indigenous learning centres such as Nmaachihna and the alternative classroom. Unfortunately, Nmaachihna is currently closed, and it is unclear if it will open again, but it was a great memorable experience for the youth that attended.

Tipi with symbols painted on sides including thunderbird and eagle
Site of Nimkii Binesi Zaswaaning (Thunderbird’s Nest)

The Learning Lodge on the Chippewa on the Thames First Nation (COTTFN) is being prepared as a site to host Indigenous learning, healing and ceremony for its members (seen in image).

(More on this project to build a permanent roundhouse.)

 

 

Activity: Self-Reflection

Take a moment to reflect on the following questions and position yourself to the land you are on or grew up on and left:

  • Who are your ancestors?
  • How did you come to be here in this territory?
  • What is some of the history regarding the relationships between Indigenous Nations and colonizers/settlers from the part of Canada where you live, work, and travel? Is there anything notable? Would you be able to connect or relate that to your discipline?

Activity: Self-directed Activities for your Discipline

Research your institution’s connection to the treaty (if one exists) for your area and prepare your own land-acknowledgement based on what you have learned. See Native Land Digital for an interactive map on treaties, language and territories, information on territory acknowledgements and more.

Classroom Activity

Detail how one could feed their family and community based on where they live in the province while still honouring and respecting the land.

Join Jaimie at the site of the Nimkii Binesi Zaswaaning (Thunderbird’s Nest) to discuss a brief video on place-based learning (2:06).

Reference:

IECeducation (2011, Dec 9). Nmaachihna – “We are going home” [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/qfcZfqfoeLE

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Indigenous Pedagogies Copyright © by Lorna Stolarchuk and Jaimie Kechego is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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