Education a first step on the long road to reconciliation

Two Canadian universities are making sure all new students are taught Indigenous culture and history — no matter what faculty they're in. The University of Winnipeg and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont., have both made Indigenous learning a requirement. While many students and faculty applaud the idea in practice it's not going quite as intended.

 

Tune in for a panel with Jenna Carew, a graduate student, Kayla Tanner, a fourth year student and Robert Robson, an associate professor and the current chair of the department of Indigenous learning at Lakehead.

Peggy Smith, the interim vice-provost of Aboriginal initiatives at Lakehead University, is tasked with implementing the Indigenous content requirement. She will share the university's point of view.

Recently 500 educators filed into a huge room at the University of Manitoba. They were there for Giga Maamaawii bimosemin or We Will Walk Together: A Conference for Truth and Reconciliation. The goal? To get educators and teacher candidates engaged with the history of residential schools and the lasting impacts of colonialism.

The keynote speaker was Lisa Howell. She is a Grades 5 and 6 special education teacher at Pierre Elliot Trudeau School in Gatineau, Que. Hear how she's seen reconciliation play out in her classroom. 

It's harvest time for farmers and gardeners across the country. In the Yukon, there's a new batch of eager harvesters.
They're part of a new farm school created by a local First Nation. CBC reporter Cheryl Kawaja dropped by the rural-northern site, to find out more.

Emma Dick, who is 90-years-old, grew up on a trapline until she was sent to a residential school where she was forbidden to speak her language. From there she went to another residential school where she helped teach her language. And she hasn't spent much time away from the classroom ever since.

This fall Emma began here 61st year teaching boys and girls in Inuvik to speak Inuvialuktun. The CBC's Marc Winkler stopped by the classroom she shares with teacher Donna Johns.

This week's playlist:

Federal Lights - Into the Ground

Jace Martin - Free to Fly

N'we Jinan Project - When the Dust Settles