By this point, our hope is that you have made some connections to knowledge you already knew and that you have had exposure to new information that you are learning for the first time. Let's take a minute and quickly review some of the topics we have covered.
We began this module with some information on terminology and the righting and origins of 'names'. We were then introduced to the staggering statistics of the state of Indigenous education in Canada. The hope is that correlations can be made between the impact of Canadian government policies to 'kill the Indian' in the child and the current state of nations today. This strategy led to the development of aggressive assimilation policies and a push for a segregated system of education known as the Residential School Era. We were able to visit the 'Where are the Children?' website to explore this era in more depth. And, if you had the chance to see the documentary 'We were Children', then you will have an even greater understanding of the Residential School Era.
Finally, we watched the Statement of Apology by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the responses by Indigenous leadership in Canada. Rather than an end, this day is seen as a reason for hope that new relationships would develop based on mutual respect and trust for future generations.
Here are some questions to reflect upon and for you to gain a new perspective in understanding the issues Indigenous peoples face today.
- What is the most significant piece of information that you have learned so far?
- How would this information generate or stimulate action in your professional and/or personal life?
- What question is uppermost in your mind with what you have learned in this module about Indigenous education?