Workshop #3

Ahstanskiaki Manyfeathers is a fluent Blackfoot speaker and a proud member of the Kainai nation. She is the Academic Coordinator/Instructor of Blackfoot Language & Culture Programs at Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary and previously created curriculum and taught Blackfoot Language. Sandra received three of her degrees from the University of Calgary including a BA in Canadian Studies, a BEd, an MEd, and is currently working toward her Doctor of Education in Learning Sciences. With Blackfoot as her first language, Sandra has received many awards for language teaching include the YMCA Volunteer of the Year Award, Global TV’s Woman of Vision Award & the Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award from the City of Calgary for her work on Blackfoot Language Revitalization.  Sandra’s vision for the future includes young Blackfoot people speaking the language fluently and she is committed to making this a reality. 

As locator for workshop 3 (Land-based and Place-based literacies) Ahstanskiaki Sandra Manyfeathers will share Blackfoot knowledge, with a focus on mindfulness, to teach the importance of attending to place and learning to read the land as part of literacy education.  She will discuss the impact that land-based and place-based literacies have on engaging learners to develop relationships with the places we learn from. Mindfulness practices as part of land-based learning engage the audience in being fully present where they are and learning to pay attention with all of their senses to learn the stories that the land has to share. Manyfeathers will discuss the necessary role that land-based learning has on decolonizing limited approaches to literacy pedagogy in the classroom. 

Lesley nitsikāson ochi niya Michel First Nation mēkwac niwikin otiskwanīk.  Lesley is a member of Michel First Nation in treaty 6 territory. She has been working and living as a guest in treaty 7 territory for 20 years. Lesley Tait is an educator and a Ph.D. student at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. She is part of the team of educators, Knowledge Keepers, Elders, community members and families who opened the Niitsitapi Learning Centre, designed to respond to the TRC calls to action. Lesley Tait worked with the CBE Indigenous Education Team in the role of specialist. This unique leadership role focuses on how, as a large organization, we might go about cultivating a balance between Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, and existing CBE knowledge systems in all CBE schools and for all CBE students.  Lesley also teaches Indigenous Education courses at the Werklund School of Education to think through and enact best practice as it related to both the demythologizing and re-mythologizing nature of lifting Indigenous ways of knowing within classrooms.   Her current Ph.D. research  examines the animacy of place as the beginning of all learning, this research investigates urgent questions about how nehiyaw (Cree) understandings of wahkotowin and wîcêhtowin can support both anti-racist education and the balanced inclusion of Indigenous knowledges within curriculum for the benefit of all students. As a former specialist on the CBE Indigenous Education Team, Lesley Tait supported educators in uncovering their own relationship with knowledge systems and including Indigenous teachings within their classrooms.

Lesley Tait will speak to the relationship that sits at the centre of Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. This relationship is not just between people but between ourselves and the places we live, between the land and the stories we tell, between the plants and the names they give themselves. Understanding colonization as a prolonged period of denying relationship, we can understand decolonization as the renewing of these critical relationships.

Autumn EagleSpeaker is a member of the Kainai First Nation. She is from the All Short Peoples Clan and the Running Antelope Band.  Autumn was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and has resided in Calgary for the past 26 years. Autumn is the daughter of Diane EagleSpeaker and Michael Williams and is the granddaughter of the late Glen and Leona EagleSpeaker and Helen and Stanley Williams.

Autumn is a Blackfoot/African American Renaissance Woman, Mother of six, Warrior, Lover of Indigeneity, Politics, Art and Books. She is a speaker, passionate volunteer and Creates events and opportunities for others.

Autumn is an entrepreneur, designing her own line of jewelry: Falling Leaves Designs. Autumn’s educational background at the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University focused on International Indigenous Studies and Political Science. Autumn has previously worked in Oil and Gas Indigenous Consultation and Non-profit Organization and Food Bank Management, and for the City of Calgary as a cultural event planner organizing the first ever Calgary Canada Day Powwow.

Autumn is a Community organizer. She (along with her sister Melrene) organizes the Authentically Indigenous Craft Market, a social enterprise that creates opportunities for local Indigenous artists, makers and creators through craft markets and events. Authentically Indigenous is now in its 7th season.

Autumn has organized the University of Calgary annual Indigenous Graduation powwow for the past thirteen years, only missing last year due to covid.

Autumn also organizes Elders conferences and other events that bring people together.

Autumn is a Community volunteer. Autumn has volunteered within the Calgary Indigenous Community for the past 26 years to various groups, governmental organizations and political organizations. Autumn is currently the Co-Chair of the Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society, an Indigenous Arts organization whose focus is Indigenous theatre and creating Indigenous opportunities in the arts. She has sat on many Boards  including holding leadership capacities within these roles. In her early years she was Board Chair for the Urban Society for Aborigial Youth (USAY). One of Autumn’s greatest honours was to Co-Lead for Walking With Our Sisters Calgary - a commemorative art installation that honours Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls & Two-Spirit relatives in Canada and the US. 

Autumn is a Community Activist. Autumn has organized and led movements, marches, rallies and vigils for the Indigenous Community in Calgary. Autumn organized Calgary Day of Action for recognition of Treaty rights in 2007. Autumn was one of the main organizers for Idle No More Calgary beginning in Dec 2011 to 2012. INM was a nationwide movement that focused on the honouring of Indigenous treaties, rights and the wrongful Canadian government policies that encroached on these rights and also environmental degradation. Autumn has hosted and has been a speaker for the Sisters In Spirit Calgary march and vigil to honour MMIWG2S+. Autumn assisted to organize and hosted the rallies and led the marches to honour Colten Boushie and love for Tina Fontaine Community vigils. Autumn is in her 4th year of participating in the Walk for Justice and supporting her sister Stephanie and  the English family, who are seeking justice for the murders of Joey and Allison English and the return of Stephanie’s daughter's body parts which are still missing somewhere in Calgary landfills.

Autumn has been honoured as a recipient of the Canada 150 Senate Medal for her work for Outstanding Volunteerism in 2017, the Esquao Award for Community Service in 2004 and the City of Calgary Youth Achievement Award many moons ago in 2002.

Autumn recently battled and won, overcoming Breast Cancer surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. She is a year and a half clear from Breast Cancer.

Autumn’s greatest accomplishment in life is being the mother of six amazing children; Willow, Rain, Sky, Cloud, Thunder and Rosie.

As a panel member, Autumn Leona EagleSpeaker will participate in the learning encounter, reflect on the potential of this work to impact student learning in classrooms, and share his reflections during the panel discussion. Following the learning experience, he will provide reflection and commentary addressing the following questions:

• What is the potential of this approach for disrupting and broadening classroom literacies? 
• What challenges do you see?
• What does this invite you to consider as an educator/artist/community leader? 
• What might these approaches to literacy education offer as steps toward a decolonized, anti-racist society? 

In her 14 years working for Calgary Board of Education, Weasel Bear-Johnson has filled the roles of Diversity and Learning Support Advisor (Indigenous Education), classroom Teacher (grades 4-7), school and system-based Learning Leader (Indigenous Education) and currently, Well-being Strategist (Indigenous Education). With a background in positive youth development, she embraces holistic, strength-based philosophies. Weasel Bear-Johnson believes that education has the power to shape the world one brilliant mind at a time, and that the way forward in an era of reconciliation for education requires land-based, co-existent relationships between Indigenous and Western knowledge structures. Of Piikani and Western-European descent, Weasel Bear-Johnson was born and (mostly) raised in Mohkinstsis. A storyteller, wife, grandmother, stepmother and fur-parent, she enjoys every opportunity she gets to spend time outside on the land and pursuing her creative passions.

As a panel member, Janis Weasel Bear-Johnson will participate in the learning encounter, reflect on the potential of this work to impact student learning in classrooms, and share his reflections during the panel discussion. Following the learning experience, he will provide reflection and commentary addressing the following questions:

• What is the potential of this approach for disrupting and broadening classroom literacies? 
• What challenges do you see?
• What does this invite you to consider as an educator/artist/community leader? 
• What might these approaches to literacy education offer as steps toward a decolonized, anti-racist society?