Integrating Indigenous culture and perspectives
into everyday learning

SelfDesign works to advance the journey towards reconciliation by building cultural bridges to Indigenous ways of being, seeing and knowing throughout our educational programs and offerings.

Our efforts are driven by the recommendations put forward in 2017 by SelfDesign’s Indigenous education task force, which comprised a First Nations elder, a First Nations SelfDesign parent and learner, and SelfDesign educators with Indigenous heritage.

Our commitment to reconciliation

SelfDesign is part of a nationwide network of schools seeking to further reconciliation.

As part of our commitment to furthering reconciliation and intercultural understanding and respect, SelfDesign Learning Community became a member of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack foundation’s Legacy School network in 2019, joining a community of more than 1,600 legacy schools across Canada and linking to funding, educational resources and opportunities that advance reconciliation.

The Legacy School network is a national initiative that engages, empowers and connects students and educators to further reconciliation through awareness, education, connection, and action.

Our territorial acknowledgement

It is with gratitude that the SelfDesign community respectfully acknowledges the many traditional, ancestral, unceded and treaty territories that we learn and grow on throughout this diverse continent. We honor and thank the many Nations whose voices and footsteps have marked this territory for millenia in recognition of their continued stewardship of the land. We also look forward to many collaborations and meaningful exchanges to create a shared vision for the future.

Our approach

How we support our learners

We integrate the First Peoples Principles of Learning into our work, programs and learning opportunities.
We carefully curate authentic resources to help learners explore and understand Indigenous ways of being, seeing and knowing.
We provide grants for Indigenous learners to connect with and learn about their cultures and languages.
We offer learners opportunities to connect with Indigenous Elders, traditional knowledge keepers, Indigenous educators and each other.

Our family acknowledges the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Secwepemcúl’ecw (Secwépemc) First Nation on which we are learning and living each day.

– SelfDesign Parent

First Peoples Principles: A foundation for everyday learning and program design

We work to integrate the First Peoples Principles of Learning into every aspect of our work and educational programs. We use the principles as a starting point to help shape how we approach learning, support learners, develop curriculum, learning resources and opportunities, and communicate with learners, families and other community members.

AUTHENTIC RESOURCES

We work with Indigenous elders, traditional knowledge keepers and Indigenous educators, families and youth to identify and curate authentic learning resources that explore, draw upon and reflect the diverse and rich cultures and perspectives of Canada’s many Indigenous peoples. Our learners can access these resources through the SelfDesign Learning Experience Library, digital subscriptions, theme and group workshops and offerings, and at our events and camps.

TRAINED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE EDUCATORS

We integrate the First Peoples Principles of Learning into orientation and training for all of our BC certified educators at the start of every learning year. Workshops, guest speakers and learning opportunities offered throughout the year help our educators deepen their understanding and awareness of these principles and the journey towards reconciliation.

LEARNING THROUGH CONNECTION AND RELATIONSHIP

Our learners and families have access to learning opportunities, discussions and hands-on explorations through programs, themes, courses, and events. We recognize learning happens through relationships with others, and we work to offer opportunities throughout the year for learners to connect with Indigenous elders, traditional knowledge keepers and each other as they explore and grow their understanding of Indigenous ways of being and knowing.

Opportunities

Cultural Learning Grants – Since 2017/2018, SelfDesign’s Cultural Learning Grants have helped more than 75 Indigenous learners connect more deeply with and learn more about their traditional cultures and languages.

Indigenous Education Connect – This dynamic, online classroom space provides resources and information to support all members of the SelfDesign® Learning Community on the path to reconciliation.

Funding and post-secondary education opportunities – We support our learners and families as they navigate grades 10 to 12 and prepare for life after grade 12, including providing information about post-secondary opportunities specific to Indigenous learners.

Seasonal Indigenous family and guardian discussion forum – We provide a safe space for families to share their insights, experiences, commentary and questions with each other and with our Indigenous Education team. We also host informal spaces for families to connect and share.

Our commitment to Indigenous education

We’re part of a national network of schools seeking to further reconciliation.

We provide virtual and in-person opportunities throughout the year to promote the journey towards reconciliation.

We connect learners, families and educators to regional, provincial, national conversations about reconciliation and Indigenous ways of being, seeing and knowing.

Through workshops, camps, learning resources and other opportunities, our learners connect with and learn about Indigenous perspectives and worldviews.

We seek to integrate the First Peoples Principles of Learning into all aspects of our work and program design.

I acknowledge the traditional land of the Coast Salish people, specifically the S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), and Kwantlen Nations, upon which I learn, love, work and live. I acknowledge my role as a settler here. I seek their guidance as to how I can work alongside them to be a better neighbour and steward of the land.

SelfDesign Contractor

I acknowledge the traditional, ancestral, unceded territories of Kwantlen Á,LEṈENEȻ ȽTE (W̱SÁNEĆ), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), sc̓əwaθenaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsawwassen), sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), Semiahmoo Coast Salish.

SelfDesign Contractor

Working from the traditional unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

SelfDesign Contractor

Because the territory around Nelson, BC is unceded and disputed, the guidance I have received on land acknowledgement is that the most important thing is that people understand why they are doing one in the first place and the significance of it, as well that it is from the heart. For this reason I do not use a script and every land acknowledgement I do is a little bit different. The nations to acknowledge in this area are: Ktunaxa, Sinixt, Syilx, Secwepmec and Metis peoples.

SelfDesign Contractor

With gratitude I acknowledge the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Sinixt, Ktunaxa, and Syilx/Okanagan First Nations on which I am living and learning. I honour your wisdom of this place.

SelfDesign Contractor

Our family acknowledges the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the Secwepemcúl’ecw (Secwépemc) First Nation on which we are learning and living each day.

SelfDesign Parent

It is my immense honour to reside on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish people, on an island nurtured by many nations for time immemorial. I express tremendous gratitude to be able to live, work, learn, and play here.

SelfDesign Parent

We are a Metis family living on the traditional territory of the Sinixt.

SelfDesign Parent

I would like to acknowledge that the land on which I teach is within the traditional territories of the Nlaka’pamux and Secwépemc peoples.

SelfDesign Parent

Coast Salish, Katzie, Sto:lo, Kwantlen and Stz’uminus.

SelfDesign Parent

Limləmt (“thank you” in nsyilxcən) to the Syilx people for allowing me to live and work on the unceded land of the Okanagan Nation Alliance.

SelfDesign Educator

I am grateful to live, play and work on the unceded traditional territories of the Lkwungen people, and the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.

SelfDesign Educator

I respectfully acknowledge that I am standing, living and working on the Unceded traditional territory of the K’òmoks First Nation.

SelfDesign Educator

I honour the vibrant Sinixt community, whom have stewarded the land, water and air since Rain created the Columbia and Coyote placed the Sinixt here as reverent stewards. I am deeply committed to being worthy of the space I occupy.

SelfDesign Educator

I respectfully acknowledge that the unceded land on which I live is the traditional territory of the Sinixt, the Sylix and the Ktunaxa peoples. I look to the wisdom and knowledge of these Nations so that I may be a loving and trustworthy steward of this precious land. Kaslo, West Kootenays.

SelfDesign Educator

My family acknowledges that the land on which we live, work, and learn is the traditional territories of the Sinixt, the Syilx, and the Ktunaxa peoples, and is home to many diverse indigenous persons including the Metis. We are grateful for the opportunity to live on this beautiful land. We care deeply for it and show our respect by keeping it as clean and in its natural state as possible.

SelfDesign Educator