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Indigenous Teaching and Learning Series

This unique online education series is geared toward university instructors with the goal to increase their understanding of the colonial roots of the academy, the movement to transform universities to be more inclusive of Indigenous peoples, and to inspire them to move toward decolonizing their pedagogies.

In this video, learners will be introduced to the colonial roots of the Westernized university with a particular focus on its systemic allegiance to Euro-Western ways of knowing. In the context of increasing reconciliation discourses in Canada, learners will be exposed to the structural ways that settler colonialism has shaped the university system, its disciplines and teaching practices with the goal to inspire instructors to attend to academic colonialism in their disciplines, and more proactively include Indigenous perspectives across the curriculum.

Please note: This module will take approx. 35 min., plus reading and reflection work.


In this video, learners will be introduced to specific ways that colonialism shapes higher education and curriculum at various levels. The module will offer Indigenous perspectives on decolonial change and introduce instructors to a four guiding principles that can help them start to move toward decolonizing their pedagogies by: increasing decolonial consciousness; reflecting on complex positionalities; engaging critical and relational pedagogies; and taking responsibility for ongoing lifelong (un)learning.

Please note: This module will take approx. 40 min., plus reading and reflection work.


In this video, learners will be introduced to some background and reading materials relevant to the Indigenous Students, Indigeneity and Experiences in Universities. The purpose of this video and the supporting guide are to offer university instructors an introduction into the complexities of Indigenous student’s collective and individual identities and experiences accessing and navigating the university.

Please note: Total viewing time of the video–approx. 62 min., plus reading and reflection work.


Candace Brunette-Debassige is a Mushkego Cree iskwew from Peetabeck (Treaty 9 Territory) with Cree and French ancestry. Brunette-Debassige is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Western University located on lands of the Anishnabek, Haudenoshaunee and Lenapewuk Peoples in London Ontario Canada. Currently, Brunette-Debassige serves as a university-wide Teaching Fellow in Indigenous Learning at Western. Her scholarly work and professional practices center on advancing the liberatory struggles of Indigenous Peoples in educational settings. Her current research agenda is located in the areas of Indigenous and decolonial approaches to curriculum, educational change, leadership and policy. Her scholarly work embodies a deep commitment to advancing Indigenous theorizing, Indigenous methodologies in research, and Indigenous pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning.

Acknowledgements

All modules were developed by teaching fellow, Candace Brunette-Debassige. This project was supported by Western University’s Provost Office, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and the Centre for Teaching and Learning with some funding provided by a Commonwealth Peace and Reconciliation Challenge Grant from the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and Western University's Open Educational Resources Grant and Support Program.

 

The Teaching and Learning Series (Modules 1, 2, and 3) is licensed with a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license, except where otherwise noted.

Recommended citations for videos and guide:

Brunette-Debassige, C. (2022). Decolonizing the Academy Module 1. In The Indigenous teaching and learning series. [Digital Curriculum Module]. Western University.

Brunette-Debassige, C. (2022). Toward Decolonizing your Pedagogy Module 2. In The Indigenous teaching and learning series. [Digital Curriculum Module]. Western University.

Brunette-Debassige, C. (2023). Indigenous Students, Indigeneity and Experience in Universities Module 3. [Digital curriculum module]. In The Indigenous teaching and learning series. Western University. 

Recommended citation for the digital design:

Brunette-Debassige, C & Pichette, H. (Urban Iskwew). (2022). Academic tower on Indigenous lands.