DJP Campus – Reshaping our Learning Spaces: Centering Indigenous-Led Approaches in Teaching and Learning
January 29 @ 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Join Indigenous Education and the Centre for Academic Excellence as we embark on a shared journey to reshape and reimagine colonial education systems. Decolonizing our learning spaces begins with recognizing the systems that shape it. This journey invites all educators to create safer spaces for Indigenous students and staff by engaging with Indigenous knowledge, allyship, and relational practices that center Indigenous ways of knowing—for the benefit of all learners.
Guided by the metaphor of traveling together in a canoe, we will explore what it means to prepare for the journey, gathering the tools, knowledge, and intentions needed before stepping in. We will then learn how to enter the canoe with care, to paddle together, navigate challenges, and reflect on the teachings along the way. We aim to then return from this journey ready to share what we’ve learned and support others in their own paths toward decolonization.
This four-part program requires full commitment to attend all sessions and will be offered in Welland and DJP. While you may be early in your journey, this program is designed for those who have already engaged with some foundational learning about Indigenous experiences, whether through readings, workshops, or formal education.
Suggested prerequisite materials include any of the following:
- Ally is a Verb by Rose LeMay (book available digitally through NC Library)
- Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga (book available through NC Library)
- The Knowing by Tanya Talaga (book available through NC Library)
- A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott (book available to borrow from the CAE office)
- White Benevolence: Racism and Colonial Violence in the Helping Professions by Cebhard, McLean & St. Denis (book)
- Four Seasons of Reconciliation (course)
- Indigenous Canada – University of Alberta (course)
Who Should Attend:
- Faculty and staff who have engaged in foundational learning and are now ready to deepen their practice.
- Those committed to creating culturally safe, inclusive, and responsive learning environments.
- Individuals who are willing to sit with discomfort and challenge their own assumptions and pedagogical practices.
Program Details
- DJP Campus:
- Thursdays 9:30 – 11:30am
- January 29, February 12, February 26, and March 12
To express your interest, please complete the Reshaping Application Form.