Summit 20

VancouVer Jan 26-27, 2018

Pinnacle Hotel VancouVer Harbourfront

The IndIgenous educaTIon

Summit-within-a Summit

Session 1 (Workshop 5) 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Kaleb child and dr. scott BenwellSetting the Stage – Directions in Indigenous Education and the Summit ExperienceThis session will overview the current directions being taken by the Ministry of Education and Six School Districts in addressing systemic barriers impacting Aboriginal student achievement. A focus on equity of opportunity for learners and a collaborative approach is driving a review of current practices and policies that may be creating obstacles for Aboriginal learners in the BC system. This project defines a collaborative decision making process for school districts and educators to enter into a genuine and meaningful dialogue about the experience of education for Aboriginal learners and to respond in strategic ways to create conditions for success. This session will allow participants to interact with the equity scan framework and to exchange ideas with co-participants on how they can apply concepts and actions in their schools and communities.

Kaleb Child, Musgamdzi is a member of the Kwakiutl (Kwagiulth) First Nation on northern Vancouver Island and has strong cultural knowledge through his family connections as a traditional singer and dancer amongst the Kwak’wala speaking peoples. In addition to culture and community education, Kaleb obtained a B. Ed degree as a graduate of the Indigenous Teachers Education Program (NITEP, University of British Columbia) and a Master’s Degree in Education (University of Victoria). He has 22 years of experience in education in both teaching and administration in Band-operated schools, Post-Secondary Programs, early learning and in BC public education K - 12. His education and professional experience has been connected closely to First Nations communities throughout his career as a teacher, director and educational leader. In his role across communities he works to enhance and support leadership development committed to Equitable learning environments, an Indigenous vision for pedagogy, authentic Aboriginal learning connections for all learners, language and culture revitalization, and strengthening meaningful relationships across communities. Kaleb currently lives in Victoria with his partner Yakawilas, Coreen Child (Wilson), and their three daughters, Tłakweł’ganaxw, Kiara, Tłakwa’gila’ogwa, Natalya, and Tłakwa’ga, Mariah.

Dr. Scott Benwell has over 20 years of educational leadership experience in British Columbia, Yukon and Alberta. Living, working, and serving in the territories of First Nations and across the diversity of much of western Canada has been an influential part of defining Scott’s educational leadership philosophy and professional practice. Most recently he served as Superintendent of Schools/CEO of School District 85 (Vancouver Island

North) for five years before being seconded to the British Columbia Ministry of Education. Scott earned a PhD in Educational Leadership from the University of Calgary in 2005 and continues to have research interests in school effectiveness and improvement, responsive learning environments and leadership that makes a difference and creates equity of opportunity for each learner. Scott and his partner, Catherine, are the proud parents of two young men with minds and aspirations of their own. They currently reside on northern Vancouver Island in the traditional territory of the Kwakwaka’wakw.

Session 2 (Workshop 14) 2:40 pm - 4:00 pm

Jo-anne (Jo) chronaBeyond the Poster on the Wall: The First Peoples Principles of Learning as a Framework for Transformation and EquityHow do we create education systems that support the success of every learner? How do we engage in Reconciliation through education, and what are our individual roles within this process?

We begin with challenging some of the long held assumptions about education that continue to exist in our education systems today. We transform education by challenging ourselves to engage in our own learning first, and then we build stronger education systems for all learners by building on the strengths that we each bring to the discussion.

The First Peoples Principles of Learning (FPPL) are making an impact on our education system, but we have only begun to understand how they can be used as a framework to support positive and effective teaching and learning in our schools, classrooms, and communities.

Join us for a discussion about how we can take our individual and collective next steps in our own learning journeys to ensure vital, responsive and equitable education experiences for all our students. We will explore such questions as:• Whatdoourschoolsandclassroomslookandsoundlikewhentheyare

grounded in the First Peoples Principles of Learning?• HowcanweusetheFPPLasaframeworkforourpracticetosupportan

equitable education system for Indigenous learners?• Whatdoesitfeellikeforstudents?Forfamilies?Foryouasaneducator?

Jo-Anne (Jo) Chrona is currently the Curriculum Coordinator for the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC). Her professional experience includes 20 years teaching in both the K-12 and post-secondary systems in

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British Columbia in addition to serving as a Policy Analyst, an advisor to the BC Ministry of Education, and a Faculty Associate in SFU’s Teacher Education Program. Over the past two decades, Jo has been actively involved in curriculum development and teacher resource writing, professional learn-ing through inquiry networks, and Indigenous education. She has also been participating in various aspects of the changes to the BC education system.Jo is passionate about supporting a truly inclusive, strength-based education experience for all learners in BC and is dedicated to the idea that in order to support their success, we all need to be active life-long learners. She is a member of the Kitsumkalum Band of the Ts’msyen Nation.

Session 3 (Workshop 19) 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Mike BowdenSetting the Stage – Directions in Indigenous Education and the Summit ExperienceThere is a lot of evidence describing what foundational skills are necessary for literacy success. This includes research stemming from the national Literacy Panel’s Report (2000) and later the Report of national Literacy Panel for Minority Children and youth (2006). Research also shows that students with strong literacy skills tend to be better set up for learning and success in our school system. yet, despite the growing body of knowledge around what skills are necessary for the success of our students, we still struggle with bringing parity for our Indigenous learners.

This session will critically look at the pedagogy used in classrooms for teaching foundational skills. It will draw on the work stemming from John Hattie’s meta-analysis on what works best for learning in schools as well as other international and local researchers. It will provide a critical context for future instructional practices in literacy foundational skills through the lens of instructional competency, inclusion and diversity. Through this lens we can hope to flip the culture of low expectations to that of high expectations – building towards the future parity and success of our Indigenous literacy learners.

Mike Bowden is currently the District Principal – Aboriginal Education for School District No. 73 (Kamloops Thompson). He is a member of the Secwepemc Nation from the Interior of British Columbia. His professional experience includes over 20 years in both the public and Band schools as a teacher and principal spanning the province. His educational background includes a graduate degree in curriculum and instruction. Mike has also

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been involved with Literacy and Indigenous Education locally, provincially, nationally and internationally. He is currently the president of the B.C. Literacy Council, Vice Chair of the Canadian Network of International Literacy Councils, Founder and Chair of the Indigenous Special Interest Group of the International Literacy Association. Mike is passionate about making a difference for all of our children. Particularly in the area of literacy through the lens of an inclusive education system that values diversity. He is dedicated to bringing equity to our Indigenous learners and ultimately, creating parity and success for all of our diverse learners.

Session 4 (Workshop 24) 1:15 pm - 2:30 pm

Kaleb child and dr. scott BenwellBraiding the Rope – Summit Learning and What It Means for Your Learners TomorrowThis session will provide an opportunity for participants to collaborate and develop a personalized Indigenous educational strategy focussed on the Summit experience. Facilitated conversations and table groups will focus on themes of Equity, First Peoples Principles of Learning, Pedagogy and Early Learning to bring to their personal and professional roles. Participants will take away a graphic organizer to continue to build and share across educational communities along with a showcase of authentic resources and powerful professional learning tools.

The Summits are non-Profit Events Co-sponsored by

EarlyA First Class Beginning:

Learning INC.(Janet Mort PhD)

When Struggling Readers Thrive Dreams Come True