Education - Teaching Mathematics

Indigenous education and the new BC curriculum

First People's principles of learning (poster PDF)

• Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors.
• Learning is holistic, refl exive, refl ective, experiential, and relational (focused on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place).
• Learning involves recognizing the consequences of one’s actions.
• Learning involves generational roles and responsibilities.
• Learning recognizes the role of indigenous knowledge.
• Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story.
• Learning involves patience and time.
• Learning requires exploration of one’s identity.
• Learning involves recognizing that some knowledge is sacred and only shared with permission and/or in certain situations.

First Nations Education Steering Committee. 2016. Retrieved on May 25, 2016 from
http://www.fnesc.ca/learningfirstpeoples/ 

The BC Ministry of Education's introduction to indigenous perspectives in the new curriculum. The ministry's statement on aboriginal education (PDF)

Many years ago, classroom resources had few references to Aboriginal people or, if they did, it was often superficial or incorrect. As curriculum processes evolved, resources began to include some information about Aboriginal people but not how Aboriginal perspectives and understandings help us learn about the world and how they have contributed to a stronger society. Now, with the education transformation, the province is attempting to embed Aboriginal perspectives into all parts of the curriculum in a meaningful and authentic manner.

The province has long had the goal of improving school success for all Aboriginal students. To do this requires the inclusion of the voice of Aboriginal people in all aspects of the education system, increasing the presence of Aboriginal languages, cultures, and histories in provincial curricula, and providing leadership and informed practice.

British Columbia Ministry of Education. 2015. Retrieved on May 25, 2016 from
https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/sites/curriculum.gov.bc.ca/files/pdf/aboriginal_education_bc.pdf 

"Develop an understanding of the connections between the past, present, and future and the people, events, and trends that have shaped the development and evolution of societies, especially our own. A complete understanding of Canada’s past and present includes developing an understanding of the history and culture of Canada’s First Nations."