蓝莓视频

The day after reflecting on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, participants gathered at the Dana Porter Library to discuss Jo Chrona鈥檚 Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies: An Act for Reconciliation.听听

Facilitators Leslie Wexler, Senior Educational Developer, Indigenous Knowledges and Anti-Racist Pedagogies at the Centre for Teaching Excellence, and Kevin George, Associate Director, Indigenous Initiatives at the Library, situated the space in a circle, providing participants the opportunity to engage in the First Peoples Principles of Learning.听听

鈥淭he discussion wasn't exactly what I expected it to be... In a way, the circle offered more than what I was prepared for. I expected more time to be focused on Jo Chrona's book, and yet I'm grateful to Leslie and Kevin for facilitating the circle and wouldn't change a thing.鈥� -- Anti-Racism Reads participant听听听

Chrona writes about this in her book. We, non-Indigenous educators, often come to 鈥淚ndigenous work鈥� with trepidation, and until we can situate ourselves 鈥� sit in the discomfort 鈥� and suspend our preconceived notions of how 鈥渋t should be,鈥� we will not be able to move forward in an effective way.听听

Wexler and George were able to seemingly suspend time for an hour and a half, allowing participants to fully engage in an act of reconciliation: critical self-reflection. Empowering and unsettling, many participants remarked, 鈥淚 was sad I ran out of time!鈥澨�听

The ability to do this in a university space, with thoughtful and willing participants, is something I cherish greatly. The physical space, facilitators, approach and the people who attend are always different but one thing that remains the same is the energy many people feel to continue engaging in anti-racist practices.听听

Jermal Jones听
Associate Director, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Access听
University of 蓝莓视频 Library听

Further Reading听

• by Basil H. Johnston听

• , edited by George J. Sefa听

• edited by Robin Starr Minthorn and Heather J. Shotton听

• by Shawn Wilson听

• by J.R. Miller听

• by Christine Miskonoodinkwe Smith听

• by Herman Michell听听

• by Herman Michell听