Indigenous education isn’t just a subject to be slotted into the school day — it’s a way of teaching and learning rooted in land, language, and lived experience. Recognizing this means rethinking what counts as “knowledge” in Canadian classrooms.
Why It Matters
Land: Indigenous education connects learning to the land — treating nature as a teacher, not just a backdrop.
Language: Language carries worldview. Revitalizing Indigenous languages isn’t only about communication; it’s about preserving culture, ceremony, and ways of knowing.
Learning: Indigenous pedagogy often emphasizes storytelling, intergenerational knowledge, and holistic growth — approaches that enrich all students, not just Indigenous ones.
The Canadian Context
Many Indigenous communities are still fighting to restore what residential schools tried to erase.
Language programs exist but often lack stable funding or enough fluent teachers.
Land-based education (from fishing to medicine gathering) is happening in pockets, but not always supported by provincial curriculum structures.
The Opportunities
Partnerships with Elders and Knowledge Keepers to guide schools beyond symbolic gestures.
Land-based programs that connect climate education, sustainability, and Indigenous knowledge.
Bilingual or immersion programs that revitalize Indigenous languages while expanding students’ horizons.
The Risks
Tokenism: One-off lessons on “Indigenous culture” instead of integrating Indigenous knowledge across subjects.
Colonial framing: Treating Indigenous education as an “add-on” rather than a foundation.
Funding gaps: Promises without follow-through can deepen mistrust.
The Bigger Picture
True Indigenous education strengthens not just Indigenous students but the entire education system. It offers resilience, rootedness, and a broader definition of success — one that respects both tradition and innovation.
The Question
How can Canadian schools move from symbolic inclusion to fully integrating Indigenous land, language, and learning into everyday education?
Indigenous Education: Land, Language, and Learning
The Concept
Indigenous education isn’t just a subject to be slotted into the school day — it’s a way of teaching and learning rooted in land, language, and lived experience. Recognizing this means rethinking what counts as “knowledge” in Canadian classrooms.
Why It Matters
The Canadian Context
The Opportunities
The Risks
The Bigger Picture
True Indigenous education strengthens not just Indigenous students but the entire education system. It offers resilience, rootedness, and a broader definition of success — one that respects both tradition and innovation.
The Question
How can Canadian schools move from symbolic inclusion to fully integrating Indigenous land, language, and learning into everyday education?