Awakening Indigenous Knowledge: Perspectives and Experiences of Indigenous Early Childhood Education Diploma Students

Authors

  • Shelley Stagg-Peterson OISE/ University of Toronto
  • Lori Huston Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute
  • Eugema Ings Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute
  • Brenda Mason Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute
  • Kim Falcigno Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute

Keywords:

early childhood education diploma programs, Indigenous knowledge, northern Indigenous postsecondary education, Indigenous cultural revitalization, early childhood education professional requirements

Abstract

We draw on a focus group discussion amongst four Indigenous northern Ontario early childhood educators (ECEs) from an Indigenous postsecondary institution’s ECE diploma program, to show the important contributions of programs offered by Indigenous postsecondary education institutes to Indigenous cultural revitalization. We are the Indigenous Elder, two instructors, and senior administrator of the program, as well as a non-Indigenous university professor. We argue for Indigenous community-generated curricula that embody local Indigenous cultural knowledge, values, and practices, drawing on themes arising from analysis of focus group data: participants felt that they brought limited knowledge of their Indigenous language and culture to their program, and participants experienced an awakening of Indigenous knowledge through their participation in Indigenous practices outside the core curriculum.

Author Biographies

Shelley Stagg-Peterson, OISE/ University of Toronto

Professor, Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning

Lori Huston, Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute

Graduate Student, Masters in Education, UBC, with a specialty in ECE and fulfilling part-time work assignments

Eugema Ings, Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute

Instructor, Early Childhood Education Diploma Program

Brenda Mason, Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute

Elder, Early Childhood Education Diploma program

Kim Falcigno, Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute

Academic Director

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Published

2022-02-15

How to Cite

Stagg-Peterson, S., Huston, L., Ings, E., Mason, B., & Falcigno, K. (2022). Awakening Indigenous Knowledge: Perspectives and Experiences of Indigenous Early Childhood Education Diploma Students. McGill Journal of Education / Revue Des Sciences De l’éducation De McGill, 56(1). Retrieved from https://mje.mcgill.ca/article/view/9892

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