MOVING FROM THE MARGINS: CULTURALLY SAFE TEACHER EDUCATION IN REMOTE NORTHWESTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Authors

  • Edward B Harrison UNBC
  • Alexander K Lautensach UNBC
  • Verna Lynn McDonald UNBC

Keywords:

elementary teacher education, collegial inquiries, Indigenous, social justice, cultural safety, Northwest BC

Abstract

In 2007 the University of Northern British Columbia initiated a two-year elementary teacher education program at the Northwest Campus in Terrace, British Columbia. The program was designed to meet specific community needs in the North that arise from inequities in the cultural safety of Indigenous teachers and students. The authors share three collegial inquiries into the program’s contribution toward improving cultural safety in K-12 schools and meeting social justice challenges in the region’s communities. Culturally safe allocation of space became better understood, affective learning outcomes were recognized as important determinants of cultural safety, and teacher action in classrooms towards cultural safety was scaffolded for various settings.

SORTIR DE LA MARGE: UNE FORMATION CULTURELLEMENT SÉCURITAIRE DES ENSEIGNANTS DANS LE LOINTAIN NORD DE LA COLOMBIE-BRITANNIQUE 

En 2007, l’Université du Nord de la Colombie-Britannique a mis sur pied un programme de formation des enseignants à l’élémentaire d’une durée de deux ans, à son campus nord-ouest, situé à Terrace, en Colombie-Britannique. Ce programme a été conçu pour répondre aux besoins spécifiques de la communauté du nord, dont les inégalités existantes en termes de sécurité culturelle des enseignants et des élèves autochtones. Les auteurs partagent trois collaborations entre collègues issues du programme. Celles-ci ont contribué à améliorer la sécurité culturelle dans les écoles maternelle à secondaire 5 et à relever les défis de justice sociale présents dans les communautés de la région. L’attribution culturellement sécuritaire de l’espace a été mieux comprise, les conséquences affectives de l’apprentissage ont été reconnues comme des déterminants importants de la sécurité culturelle et les gestes des enseignants valorisant la sécurité culturelle dans leur classe ont été soutenus dans divers contextes.

Author Biographies

Edward B Harrison, UNBC

ED HARRISON worked in the public school system for many years. His degrees are in education with particular emphasis on curriculum studies. His research interests are in First Peoples language and culture and their relationship to education. He currently teaches in the teacher education program at UNBC in Terrace, British Columbia.

Alexander K Lautensach, UNBC

ALEX LAUTENSACH holds degrees in biology, education, bioethics, and environmental science. He teaches teachers in UNBC’s BEd program at their Terrace campus. He is an editor of the Journal of Human Security and deputy director of the Human Security Institute.

Verna Lynn McDonald, UNBC

VERNA MCDONALD has teaching credentials and classroom experience in elementary education, learning disabilities, and severe emotional disturbance. Her degrees are in psychology, educational psychology, and multicultural education. Her research interests involve cross cultural identities, and culturally regenerative education. She currently teaches in the teacher education program at UNBC in Terrace, British Columbia.

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Published

2013-01-03

How to Cite

Harrison, E. B., Lautensach, A. K., & McDonald, V. L. (2013). MOVING FROM THE MARGINS: CULTURALLY SAFE TEACHER EDUCATION IN REMOTE NORTHWESTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA. McGill Journal of Education / Revue Des Sciences De l’éducation De McGill, 47(3). Retrieved from https://mje.mcgill.ca/article/view/8846

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