Indigenous Education: a Call to Action
Program Overview
The Indigenous Education: A Call to Action graduate topic in the MED Interdisciplinary program has been designed in direct response to the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) (2015). Central to the TRC is an ethical call to educators, educational leaders, policy makers, and other concerned citizens, to embark on the work of reconciling relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. This program explores themes of decolonization, Indigenous aesthetic expressions, and critical service learning as the basis from which to build a capstone service-learning project that focuses on reconciliation. Inspired by the UNESCO principles of learning to be, know, do, and relate (Lalonde, 2015), this program takes up a variety of theoretical and applied scholarship from Indigenous and allied scholars working within: anti-racism and social justice education; Indigenous education; adult education; and critical service-learning to inform this scholarly endeavour.
Program Details
Courses in this program are offered in a blended format. Consisting of our summer residency, an on campus experience held in Summer with online work completed before and/or after your time in Calgary. Fall and Winter courses are typically held fully online through Desire2Learn and Zoom. For additional information regarding online delivery, refer to the eLearn website.
Program Goals
In completing this topic, you will:
- explore concepts, theories, research, and case studies in the areas of decolonization and reconciliation through reading, thinking, writing, and critical reflections based on course readings, in-class discussions, and other course activities;
- encounter, explore, and engage in Indigenous scholarship that furthers an understanding, and the decolonizing, of our collective history and national narrative;
- build understandings of the scope and purpose of Indigenous education work in relation to the Truth and Reconciliation Findings and Calls to Action, and in relation to applicable education policies;
- partner with Indigenous people who are active within the realm of adult education in a broad range of organizations and learning movements targeted toward societal reconciliation and social justice;
- apply course readings, discussions, and assignments to your scholarly work, or in your work with volunteers and activists; and
- extend the understanding of adult education and learning beyond the classroom to various informal teaching and learning settings and contexts that create a relational space for scholars to build their awareness, engage in learning, and create paths for success.
This Master of Education Interdisciplinary program (two concurrent summer courses followed by two online courses over the fall and winter) is designed for those who wish to explore, and enact, their own responses to a national call for reconciliation with Canada's First Peoples.
A registration package will be sent to new students after they have been admitted. Registration for the summer term will be available in late winter. Fall and Winter registration opens in the spring. Your Graduate Program Administrator will send more information about registration to you.
Fee details are available on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website.
The University of Calgary offers multiple ways to meet the cost of your education. Please refer to the Awards, Scholarships and Bursaries page to learn more about options available to students. For additional information, please contact Student Financial Support.
Please refer to the MEd Interdisciplinary page for the latest Admission Requirements and Transcripts information.
Program Schedule & Course Descriptions
Program begins each Summer term (refer to the Academic Schedule for specific dates)
Outlines are normally available 1-2 weeks prior to the start of term in D2L
3 units per course
Term 1 - Summer
Making the Case for Decolonizing
Given the colonial history of Canada, and its largely unexamined assumptions within contemporary society, this course adopts theoretical perspectives that seek to disrupt present-day misconceptions and misunderstandings. These examinations include elements of, and critiques of, postcolonialism, postmodernism, and other critical theories, and move toward a consideration of emergent and contemporary thinking from Indigenous scholars and allies.
Registration info:
EDER 655.15 L02
Term 1 - Summer
Decolonizing through Indigenous Arts and Media
As a continuation of longstanding cultural traditions, artistic practice is integral to decolonizing: critical perspectives on resistance, survivance, and resurgence in the arts represent a potent entry point into the difficult conversations that surround Canada's colonial history. By introducing a variety of Indigenous creative expressions across a variety of media including visual arts, performance, storytelling, literary arts, and digital media, this course will encourage participants to imagine and realize improved relations with Indigenous peoples.
Registration info:
EDER 655.16 L03
Term 2 - Fall
Critical Service Learning and Engaged Scholarship in Indigenous Education
Students will work to articulate a personal relationship to service learning, understanding and positioning their role as allies and collaborators in relation with Indigenous peoples, communities, and organizations. Inspired by aesthetic and artistic cultural practice, participants will work to represent an innovative and personal response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's "calls to action." The deliberate focus on critical reflection throughout this experience will inspire students to think, perform and act with integrity around Indigenous issues.
Registration info:
EDER 655.17 L02
Term 3 - Winter
Capstone Project in Indigenous Education
As the final element of this program, this course is structured on the delivery of the service learning project and a final reflection on the overall experience. Based on a developing understanding of contexts and possibilities for Indigenous education, this project leads participants to respond to calls for action in building toward reconciliation. Service learning enables participants to build deeper understandings of how change is to be enacted by learning in collaboration with Indigenous people and by developing reciprocal relationships with Indigenous community groups.
Registration info:
EDER 655.18 L02
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