FREE 60 min Virtual Workshop on Tuesday, June 3 at 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern Time
With Indigenous Authors, Artists and Educators Leona Prince, Leah Marie Dorion, Myah Birrell and Launa Purcell
Join three fantastic Indigenous educators as they share about Indigenous Learning Resources suitable for elementary-aged learners. From connecting to story, understanding and appreciating cultural teachings to deepening curiosity and nature connection through an Indigenous inquiry lens, this workshop will give you lots of Monday-ready takeaways to embed in your learning setting.
- Launa Purcell is a member of Xa’xtsa First Nation. She is an Indigenous Educator with a focus on outdoor education. Launa teaches yoga and mindfulness in addition to Indigenous outdoor camps. Launa is the proud mother of two adult children. She has published 2 books on Indigenous teachings and connection to the land, including Heartbeat of the Earth and Whispers of the Earth.
- Leona Prince is from the Lake Babine Nation and Nak’azdli Whut’en and belongs to the Lhts’umusyoo (Beaver) Clan. Leona is an award-winning educator and is currently the Director of Instruction of Indigenous Education for School District 91 (Nechako Lakes). She has authored Be a Good Ancestor and A Dance Through the Seasons.
- Leah Marie Dorion is a Métis artist, author, curriculum developer, lecturer and researcher. She has taught Métis History and Native Studies for the First Nations University of Canada, the Gabriel Dumont Institute and the University of Saskatchewan. She is also a visual artist and an instructor at the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program. Her artwork celebrates the strength and resilience of Indigenous women and families. Leah is also a published children’s book author and illustrator – her Métis ‘Connecting to the Land’ Book Bundle provides 10 excellent learning resources for kids to explore Métis knowledge, culture and history connected to the land. It includes translations into Michif, and offers incredibly vibrant illustrations giving insight into Métis life.
- Myah Birrell (she/her) is of Algonquin of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation and Canadian ancestry. She is an educator (OCT) and a graduate of the Masters of Arts in Child Study and Education program through OISE at University of Toronto. Myah has an undergraduate degree in Critical Gender Studies and is focused on creating classroom spaces that are anti-oppressive and justice focused. Myah is currently employed at Kapapamahchakwew – Wandering Spirit School in the TDSB teaching grade 6/7 as well as the current Program Coordinator at Natural Curiosity. Myah is always thinking about ways that we can decolonize education through weaving Indigenous ways of knowing and being into all curriculum.
We invite you to spend time with these excellent Indigenous resources for Elementary age:
And we also invite you to explore these excellent teacher resources:
- Natural Curiosity: The Importance of Indigenous Perspectives in Children’s Environmental Inquiry
- Heartbeat of the Earth: Connecting Children to Nature through Indigenous Teachings
