Belinda Daniels. Photo courtesy Saskculture.ca
An Indigenous educator says a complete Indigenous school curriculum in the province isn’t far off.
Belinda Daniels is the Interim President of the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre and an Indigenous language educator. She is also currently pursuing her PhD in the reclamation and preservation of the Nehiyaw (Cree) language.
Daniels says the SICC, along with other organizations and groups, have been working together over the past few years to develop an entire curriculum based on Indigenous beliefs and practices.
“This is our inheritance,” says Daniels.
“I want people to know we are sovereign nations,” she says. “So, let’s start creating our own curriculums and start creating a new school year that represents our lifestyle.”
The member of Sturgeon Lake First Nation says pockets of this type of learning are already happening across Canada though different Indigenous learning systems and First Nations Universities.
“We do have people already practising this way of knowing and being, so it is happening. If we all came together and dreamed the same dream, it can happen.” says Daniels.
While she admits the implementation of an Indigenous curriculum could be far off, she does say there would be several benefits.
“If kids were learning about their languages, land-based education, seasons, ceremonies and creation stories that would be incredible for them,” she says.
Daniels was a keynote speaker during the First Nations Language Keepers Conference in Saskatoon on Thursday.
During her address, she spoke about different learning methods for Indigenous language.
She also spoke about the effect residential schools has had on Indigenous languages and how modern educational systems are only just now trying to implement Indigenous language learning programs in their curriculum.
Daniels also touched on the TRC Calls to Action, which called on the renewal of Aboriginal languages.
The language conference is set to conclude Thursday afternoon.