Day: August 20, 2018

Playing catch up

by dougpete, posted in application, Computers, Education, inspiration, learning, Maps, Read/Write Web, social justice, Teaching, Visualization

Like many people, I suspect, who went to school when I did, my education included a certain approach to our First Nations people.  Looking back now, I completely see that it was biased and certainly did not even attempt to address all sides to us.  In fact, I’d be willing to bet that our teachers were affected by the romantic notion often conveyed in the movies.

We didn’t even use the name First Nations.

I also suspect that, like many, it was the issue with Dudley George at Ipperwash that raised whatever level of understanding that I now have.  Before this, honestly, Ipperwash was the “other” Provincial Park near Grand Bend that wasn’t as commercial as the Pinery.  The only First Nations communities that I knew of first hand were in Delaware, Walpole Island, and Sarnia.  Just within the past year, I’ve become aware of the Caldwell Nation along the north shore of Lake Erie.

We now understand the importance of recognizing First Nations communities, treaties, and conducting meaningful land acknowledgements.  It’s been a personal learning journey for me.  Like so many, I was impressed that the Ministry of Education was going to fund support for the Ontario Curriculum this summer.  Like so many, I was deeply disappointed when it didn’t happen.

Recently, I’ve become aware of the resource “Whose Land“, a joint project of Bold Realities, Canadian Roots, and Taking IT Global.  This is an interesting collection of text, maps, treaties, communities, links, and videos showing Land Acknowledgements.

Overlaid on Google Maps, this resource is a visual portal for research.  This has been a useful resource for my own learning.  I can’t believe how much I need to understand to catch up.  So much of this should have been part of my Canadian Studies classes.

I’m sharing it here for those who are looking for appropriate and respectful resources for the class this upcoming school year.

While the scope is North American, I’m starting local and then branching out.

Communities

Screenshot 2018-08-19 at 10.02.39

Territories

Screenshot 2018-08-19 at 10.01.31

I certainly am humbled when I view that “our borders” don’t have a place on this map.

I had nowhere near this availability of information and resources when I went to school.  Our students are so much better off and hopefully will grow up with the understanding and respect that is so necessary if we truly believe in compassion, understanding, and living in an interconnected world.

Whose Land has a working relationship with Native-Land which had previously appeared on this blog here.

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OTR Links 08/20/2018

by dougpete, posted in Links

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.