About the Conference Proceedings Series
We respectfully acknowledge that the University of New Brunswick where the Learning Gathering Series is being delivered, stands on the unsurrendered and unceded traditional Wolastoqey (WOOL-US-TOOK-WAY) land.
The lands of Wabanaki (WAH-BAH-NAH-KEE) people are recognized in a series of Peace and Friendship Treaties to establish an ongoing relationship of peace, friendship and mutual respect between equal nations.
The river that runs by our university is known as Wolastoq (WOOL-LUSS-TOOK), along which live Wolastoqiyik (WOOL-US-TOO-GWEEG) – the people of the beautiful and bountiful river. Wolastoq (WOOL-LUSS-TOOK) is also called the St. John River.
The Wabanaki-Indigenous WISE Teaching Practices Conference was designed to create spaces to learn, share and create culturally grounded teaching practices to support the work in elementary classrooms while protecting Mother Nature from the challenges of climate change.
We designed this program with the support of the Indigenous Teachers Initiative of the Rideau Hall Foundation, to promote 10.000 new Indigenous teachers in Canada. Our home and place for this initiative is the Wabanaki
These Learning Gatherings are designed under the perspective of Relationality, where we all create better conditions for wellness and protection of Mother Nature. It will support elementary teachers' efforts of construction, practice and empowerment of their culturally grounded practices in class. Participants in this series of gatherings during 2024 and 2029 will have the opportunity to learn Indigenous pedagogies to support their processes of living education as Indigenous cultural practices in the classroom.
Teacher participants will have the possibility to learn, practice, apply, modify/create and share the results of their experiences of grounding on their own culture, and the WISE teachings to better support children while protecting Mother Nature. We privilege the cultural identity of all participants in respect, harmony, diversity and unity.
The spirit of sharing and growing of this Learning Gathering series is supported by the Elder Jeannie Bartibogue Kcicihtuwinut, (Elder in Residence). Some practices shared during these learning gatherings are in the direction of the Two-Eyed Seeing Perspective of Elder Albert Marshall, the WABANAKI language and culture approach of Elder Imelda Perley, the pedagogies of harmony and respect of Elder David Perley, and Indigenous mangrove's pedagogies of Juan Rodriguez (Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education and Mi'kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre)
These learning gatherings include two sections. In the first section, we will empower and work with Indigenous teacher candidates Wabanaki Bachelor of Education to consult Elders, search and build their culturally grounded practices and experiences, promote language, and teaching-learning, and apply those practices at their schools. In our second section, we will open the process to Indigenous First Nation, Inuit and Metis Indigenous teachers where all teachers can share and learn.
We hope with this initiative to contribute to empowering Indigenous teachers in their work of grounding culturally in their sacred traditional knowledge and languages, teaching practices to enhance the learning and wellness of children and contributing to the balance of Mother Nature.
