Indigenous education resources
In this article:
Purpose
These (non-comprehensive) resources are for instructors who wish to learn about Indigenous approaches to education. They are shared to provide background information, encourage reflection, inform instructors’ pedagogical decisions where appropriate, and potentially act as conversation-starters.
Organization
The content is organized by topic and includes articles, videos, reports, instructional materials, and links to community and on-campus information—all accessible online (unless otherwise noted). General resources and discipline-specific resources are included. Most resources are by Indigenous authors or give voice to Indigenous peoples. Each entry on the discipline-specific resources page begins with the resource title and is followed by the authors’ names with their Indigenous community affiliations or ancestries in parentheses, where applicable, so as to recognize Indigenous authors’ diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. The resource type and length (where available, in minutes or pages) is included in parentheses to inform readers’ choice of resources from those listed.
Development and thanks
This content has largely been developed by non-Indigenous staff at Teaching and Learning Services. Sincere thanks to the following colleagues at McGill University for their thoughtful feedback on earlier drafts and for their resource suggestions:
Janelle Kasperski: Nisga’a, former Indigenous Education Advisor
Janine Elizabeth Metallic: Mi’gmaw, Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation; Assistant Professor (Indigenous Education)
Vanessa Racine: Anishinaabe (Beaverhouse FN); Administrative Coordinator, Indigenous Studies and Community Engagement Initiative (ISCEI)
Terry Young: Wolastoqiyik (Nation), New Brunswick; Program Manager, Indigenous Studies and Community Engagement Initiatives (ISCEI)
Reflection questions to guide your reading
Think about what your own experience and interests are when considering the place of decolonization, Indigenization, and reconciliation in your courses.
Which of the topics among these resource pages are of interest to you?
How can you think critically about these topics?
How will you use your research experience to locate additional resources within your discipline to help address questions that arise for you? How might those resources strengthen your own understanding and your students’ understanding?
What is one step you can take to put what you learn into practice in your teaching?
You might consider sharing ideas with other interested colleagues in your departments or units; this will help to build knowledge within disciplinary communities and contexts.
As a starting point, the video “What I learned in class today” and accompanying resources provide a glimpse into Indigenous students’ lived experiences in university classrooms. The materials include questions to guide reflection (individually or in groups) and in-class discussions.
To find out more, explore the topics below: