Standard 9: Educators respect and value the history of First Nations, Inuit and Métis in Canada and the impact of the past on the present and the future. Educators contribute towards truth, reconciliation and healing. Educators foster a deeper understanding of ways of knowing and being, histories, and cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis.
Standard 9 is important to me as an educator but also as an individual as I identify as Métis and think that incorporating Indigenous content and worldviews is important in education in BC.
During my practicum, I was able to incorporate a lesson teaching the students a land acknowledgment in French. I had to collaborate with my teacher to make sure I translated the Lheidli T’enneh land acknowledgment correctly. The land acknowledgement I translated was:
Here is the land
Here is the sky
Here are my friends
And here am I
We thank the Lheidli T’enneh
Whose land we live, work, and play
We promise to take care of it
Each and every day
When I delivered this lesson, I wrote out the full land acknowledgment on the board so that the students were able to see it when they came in from recess. The previous day, we had discussed the importance of taking care of the land and treating it with respect. I wanted to have this discussion before teaching them the land acknowledgment to give more context as to why we acknowledge the land. Before teaching them the words and pronunciation of the words, I gave them a short lesson on the history of the Lheidli T’enneh and that there were Indigenous peoples living on these lands far before settlers came over. I explained it in terms that kindergarten and grade 1’s could understand, but many of them knew a bit about the history already which was encouraging for me to see. I really wanted to make sure on top of the correct pronunciation of the land acknowledgment that students really understood why land acknowledgments are important.
I really appreciate that it has become routine to acknowledge the land we are on and I think it is good practice especially as educators to get familiar with doing land acknowledgments. My biggest thing with land acknowledgments is making sure we aren’t just ticking off a box and really understanding the meaning and the significance of why we do them.
I was very impressed with my students during my land acknowledgment lesson as most of them were able to pronounce the words correctly. I know it is an added challenge learning things in a new language, so it was very heartwarming to witness and be a part of.