INST 511 (2023): Indigenous Knowledge and Education Report a Broken Link

This course addresses Indigenous knowledge as a fundamental component of Indigenous education. In doing so, it also prepares the student to address and understand Indigenous pedagogy and knowledges for and about Indigenous peoples.

Unit 1


Supplementary Readings
Bastien, B. (2004). Blackfoot ways of knowing: The worldview of the Siksikaitsitapi (pp.x–34, 77–150). Calgary: University of Calgary Press.
Battiste, M. (2002). Indigenous knowledge and pedagogy in First Nations education: A literature review with recommendations (Report prepared for the National Working Group on Education and the Minister of Indian Affairs). Ottawa: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
Cardinal, H., & Hildebrandt,W. (2001). Treaty Elders of Saskatchewan: Our dream is that our peoples will one day be clearly recognized as nations. Calgary: University of Calgary Press.
Goulet, J-G. A. (1998). Ways of knowing: Experience, knowledge and power among the Dene Tha’ (pp. 27–88). Vancouver: UBC Press.
Government of Alberta Education (First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education).
Hodgson-Smith, K. (2005). State of Métis Nation learning. Ottawa: Canadian Council on Learning.

Unit 2


Required Readings
Supplementary Readings
Blackfoot Digital Library. The most relevant resources pertinent to this study unit are the audio, video, print and photographic records made publicly available through the Blackfoot Digital Library. Almost all assets in this library would be helpful to educators attempting to familiarize themselves with Blackfoot knowledge, literature, history, experience, etc. Most of the materials in this library are Blackfoot authored.
Bastien, B. (2004). Blackfoot ways of knowing: The worldview of the Siksikaitsitapi Calgary: University of Calgary Press.
Crowshoe, R., & Manneschmidt, S.(2002). Akak'stiman: A Blackfoot framework for decision-making and mediation processes (2nd ed.). Calgary: University of Calgary Press.
Glenbow Museum.

These digitized notes from anthropologist Claude Schaeffer (made accessible online through the Glenbow Institute Archives) contain many excellent testimonies by Blackfoot Elders of the early 1900s. Particularly relevant are their contributions toward the record of Blackfoot ecological knowledge and the Beaver Bundle in Schaeffer’s Series.

Glenbow Museum. The Glenbow Institute runs a website designed by Blackfoot Elders to communicate information about Niitsitapiisini, our (Blackfoot) way of life.
Grinnell, G.B. (2001). Blackfoot lodge tales. Scituate, MA: Digital Scanning. (Original work published 1892, New York: Scribners).
Kainai Studies Online Campus

Information about the Kainai Studies Program at Red Crow College is available through this website. Language learners will find the phraseology application on this site particularly helpful. The media downloads section contains a digital lecture about the Blackfoot influence on psychologist Abraham Maslow.

Ladner, K.L. (2000). When Buffalo speaks: Creating an alternative understanding of traditional Blackfoot governance (Doctoral dissertation, Carleton University, Canada).
Little Bear, L., & Heavy Head, R. (2004). A conceptual anatomy of the Blackfoot word. ReVision. 26(3), 31–38.
Maslow, A., & Honigmann, J.J. (1970) . Synergy: Some notes of Ruth Benedict. American Anthropologist, New Series. 72(2), 320–333.
Niitsitapiisinni: Stories and Spaces This interactive website, made possible through the Galileo Project, focuses on the relationship between Blackfoot people and plants. It was developed by elementary school children and their Elders on the Blood Reserve.
Noble, B. (2007). Justice, transaction, translation: Blackfoot tipi transfers and WIPO's search for the facts of traditional knowledge exchange. American Anthropologist. 109(2), 338–49.

Unit 3


Required Readings
Supplementary Readings
Alberta Online Encyclopedia (Nature’s Laws: Relational Law)
Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies. (2003). Ethical principles for the conduct of research in the North. Deposited at the National Library of Canada.
Bearpaw Legal Education and Resource Centre
Cajete, G. (1988). Motivating American Indian students in science and math. ERIC Digest. (Eric document identifier #296812)
Government of Alberta Education (Aboriginal Language and Cultural Resources). 
Government of Saskatchewan (First Nations and Métis Education Branch).
Online Cree Dictionary.
Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, Ontario (Framing Canada: A Photographic Memory)

Unit 4


Required Readings
Supplementary Readings
Canadian Encyclopedia.
Library and Archives Canada (Alberta Metis Historical Society).
Metis Nation of Alberta.
Metis Settlements General Council (History)
University of Saskatchewan iPortal (Indigenous Studies Portal Research Tool: Metis).
Virtual Museum of Metis History and Culture.

Unit 5

Required Readings


Dene Tha’ First Nation.
Supplementary Readings
Art Canada. (The People of the Deh Cho).
CBC News. (2010, December 16).  Mackenzie Valley pipeline: 37 years of negotiation.
CBC News. (2007,July 23).   Ottawa, Dene Tha’ reach deal on Mackenzie gas pipeline. 
Dempsey, H.A. Indian tribes of Alberta. (1979; repr., Calgary: Glenbow-Alberta Institute, 1988). Galileo Educational Network (Aboriginal Resources: Slavey Indians). 
Edwards, O.C. (1998). On the north trail: The Treaty 8 diary of O.C. Edwards. Leonard, D., & Whalen, B. (Eds.). Edmonton: Historical Society of Alberta. See Galileo Educational Network. (Aboriginal Resources). 
Esso et al. (2005). Environmental impact statement for the Mackenzie Gas Project, Volume 6: Part C. Socio-economic impact assessment: Dene Tha’ First Nation community report, IPRCC.PR.2005.03 9-2. MacKenzie Gas Project. 
Ethnologue. Canada. (Maps of Canada: Languages of Canada). 
Galileo Educational Network. (Aboriginal Resources). 
Goulet, J-G. A. (2001). Denendeh: Anthropologists, politics and ethnicity in the reorganization of the Canadian Northwest Territories. Senri Ethnological Studies, 56. National Museum of Ethnology, Japan (Minpaku). 
Government of Alberta. Aboriginal Relations. (Resources: Indian Reserve Maps). 
Government of Canada (INAC). Aboriginal Affairs Portal (Dene Tha’).
Government of Canada (INAC). Historic Treaties: Treaty Guide to Treaty No. 8 (1899).
Government of Canada (INAC). Historic Treaties: Treaty Research Report: Treaty 11 (1921).
Government of Manitoba. Hudson’s Bay Company Archives. (HBCA Post Maps). 
Government of the Northwest Territories. Aboriginal and Intergovernmental Relations. (Maps. Map of the Northwest Territories). 
Government of the Northwest Territories. (Maps: Settlement Areas and Asserted Territories within the NWT). 
Government of the Northwest Territories. Official Languages of the Northwest Territories. 
Government of the Northwest Territories. NWT teacher induction: A program for beginning teachers.
Heritage Community Foundation.
Heritage Community Foundation. Alberta Online Encyclopedia. (The Making of Treaty 8 in Canada’s Northwest). 
Heritage Community Foundation. Alberta Online Encyclopedia. (The Making of Treaty 8 in Canada’s Northwest. The Slavey (Dene Tha’) Nation: Fur Trade and Treaty 8).
Horvath, S., McKinnon, L., Dickerson, M.O. & Ross, M.M. (2002). The impact of the Traditional Land Use and Occupancy Study on the Dene Tha’ First Nation. Canadian Journal of Native Studies, 22( 2), 361–398.
Hudson’s Bay Company Archives. (HBCA Post Maps). 
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Aboriginal Canada Portal. (Aboriginal Communities in Canada: Dene Tha’).
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. (Acts, Agreements and Land Claims: Treaty Guide to Treaty No. 8 [1899]).
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. (Acts, Agreements and Land Claims: Treaty Research Report – Treaty 11 [1921])
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. (First Nations Profiles: Governance).
Joint Review Panel for the McKenzie Gas Project, Foundation for a Sustainable Northern Future, December 2009.
Languagegeek. Languages. (Dene Zhatié: South Slavey).
Natural Resources Canada. Atlas of Canada. (Aboriginal Languages by Community, 1996). 
Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. (NWT Archives Databases). 
Statistics Canada.  2006 Aboriginal Community Data Initiative. (Dene Tha’ First Nation). 
Tsuu T’ina Nation. (History: Dene History).
University of Winnipeg.  Centre for Rupert’s Land Studies. (Map of Rupert’s Land). 

Unit 6


Required Readings

Supplementary Readings
British North America Act, 1867 (U.K.), 30 & 31 Vict., c. 3, s. 93. Solon Law Archive.
Government of Alberta, Government of Canada. (2010). Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations, Treaty 7 Management Corporation, Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta. Memorandum of Understanding for First Nations Education in Alberta.
Government of Alberta Education. (2002). Aboriginal studies 10-20-30 (Senior High). Alberta Learning.
Government of Alberta Education. (2010). About First Nations, Métis, and Inuit [FNMI] languages programs.
Government of Alberta Education. (2003). Alberta’s Commission on Learning.
Government of Alberta Education. (2000). Strengthening relationships.The Government of Alberta's Aboriginal policy framework.
Government of Alberta Education. (2009). Cree language and culture: 12-year program guide to implementation (K–3). Alberta Education. (Curriculum Sector: Arts, Communications and Citizenship).
Government of Alberta Education. (2008). Promising practices in First Nations, Metis, and Inuit education: Case studies No. 2.
Government of Canada. The Indian Act, 1876. An Act to amend and consolidate the laws respecting Indians, 39 Vict. c. 18. Library and Archives Canada.
Johnston, E., & Longboat, D. (1986).  Sovereignty, jurisdiction and guiding principles in Aboriginal education in Canada. Canadian Journal of Native Studies, 6(1), 173–79.
Government of Canada. (2009). Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Indian Residential Schools. Library of Parliament: Parliamentary Information and Research Service.
List of Indian residential schools in Canada. (2011, November 14). Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
Maina, F. (1997).  Culturally relevant pedagogy: First Nations education in Canada. Canadian Journal of Native Studies, 16(2), 293–314.
Province of Canada. Gradual Civilization Act. An Act to encourage the gradual Civilization of the Indian Tribes of this Province, and to amend the Laws respecting Indians, 20 Vict., c. 26, s. 4 (Province of Canada).

Unit 7


Required Readings
Supplementary Readings
Battiste, M. (2005). Indigenous knowledge – Foundations for First Nations. WINHEC Journal. (accessed Dec 2011).

Unit 8


Required Readings