E D U C AT I O N
Educational journeys Teaching students on the land What is Land‐based learning? NorQuest College will launch its new Indigenous Studies Diploma Program in September, 2021, and with that program comes a for‐credit course in Land‐based learning. What is Land‐ based learning? Basically, it is what it sounds like – learning, outdoors, on the land! But it is so much more. Learning on the land allows students to recognize the spiritual, environmental, and physical connections between Indigenous peoples and the land. It takes students out of the confines of the traditional classroom and gives them a hands‐on approach to learning about Indigenous cultures. Instead of just reading about Indigenous cultural practices, students participate in them.
How do students participate? To start students off on their Land‐based learning journey, they first participate in ceremonies and offering protocol. NorQuest has been building relationships with Knowledge Keepers and Elders from local First Nations. Through these partnerships, the college teaches students to ground this process in ceremony to ensure accountability to Indigenous knowledge systems. NorQuest is lucky to have the guidance of two Knowledge Keepers: Delores Cardinal from Whitefish/Goodfish First Nation, and George Desjarlais from Frog Lake First Nation, who help the college move forward in this work within the Nehiyaw concept of Wahkohtowin. Wahkohtowin – which translates to “we are all related” – will continue to inform how the land‐ based learning activities and ceremonies are developed and ensures learning is focused on relationality and how everything is inter‐ connected.
What do students do on the Land? Land-based teaching facilitates connection between culture, Indigenous knowledge systems, and western knowledges. © NorQuest College
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A B O V E & B E Y O N D — C A N A D A’ S A R C T I C J O U R N A L
Once students have learned the importance of accountability and of the good intention of
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