We are a charitable social enterprise offering excellent outdoor learning training, tools and resources, with 100% of proceeds supporting outdoor learning non-profit initiatives.
Over the past year we have received the following feedback from participants which was offered to help inform people considering taking the 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning Course.
There is no better way to learn about Indigenous peoples, cultures, and history than directly from Indigenous voices. This was the most authentic, honest, and helpful learning I have had the opportunity to participate in. I can’t wait to do the next season of learning!
This learning is critical for anyone in any field. If you truly care about moving towards a place of authentic connection, equity, and respect for Indigenous peoples, start with this course.
This program was extremely beneficial and enhanced my learning. The resources were excellent and provided additional learning. My knowledge has increased and I have encouraged others to take this program. In fact, everybody should have to take this program. Thank you so much for an excellent learning experience!
I really appreciated the decolonized approach to learning. The pace was exceptional with ample time for knowledge-learning and reflection. The videos allowed us a rare glimpse into a world we are just beginning to learn about. I am humbled by the generosity in sharing these teachings with us.
I’ve enjoyed the ability to take the courses at my own pace, which fits with a busy work/life schedule. The content is informative and enriching. I have loved the monthly presenter talks – which are inspiring, encouraging and full of wisdom and knowledge. The links to additional materials and the items available at the store are great. I’ve happily been taking advantage of both. Thrilled to support this group and its programs!
I have truly enjoyed the 4 Seasons courses! I took the first one last year and have just signed up for the one in October. I cannot wait to learn more and hear from amazing Elders and Knowledge Keepers! Thank you for allowing me to learn alongside all of you. Such an honour!!
The definitions and explanations of terms was so helpful. I am an Indigenous woman but didn’t grow up on or near our reservation or connected to the culture because my grandparents attended Indian Boarding Schools. All the information you provided was so helpful, even if some was review for me. I wish all school districts could partake in these sessions to understand the importance of Indian education in public K-12 districts. I love that you included resources like the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, as we took my great uncle to be interviewed by them this past summer. Great resources in all the sessions so far!
I like the self-paced learning environment, but the addition of monthly gatherings where we can hear from leaders and educators is very helpful in learning more about them, their backgrounds, journeys, and how we can be allies.
I would absolutely recommend this course. As a white woman, it was crucial to my development and understanding of true, supportive allyship. I would also emphasize that this training is a starting point, the real work is in the everyday and the training equips you with the tools to start living out being an ally and honoring Indigenous peoples.
This class has helped deepen my knowledge and understanding of the indigenous communities around me. It is so important in the world we live in to show respect and compassion to each other, and that all begins with lessons like this one.
This is a course that everyone who lives in the Americas should take. This is all of our history and we need to be well-informed and proactive in the work that still needs to be done.
You will not regret learning and contemplating the information. It is worth the time!
This reconciliation learning benefited me by learning about Canada and the experiences in that territory. In the residential schools module map I found the Hoopa Boarding School that my mom and her siblings went to.
I would highly recommend Outdoor Learning’s 4 Seasons educational/learning series because it provides a safe place to learn indigenous ways/knowledge and tangible ways to be accountable and conscious of how we can heal ourselves and other’s in our relationships with community/nature.
The 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning course has been really eye-opening. It lays a great foundation for becoming more aware and appreciative of Indigenous cultures in North America.
Hearing people’s stories, thoughts, and experiences from their own mouths and in their own words is invaluable to understanding, growing, and building knowledge, compassion, know-how, and practice in one’s self.
There were points that were brought up that would help all children in education (teaching to the entire child). I also think educators are genially concerned that students don’t value the Earth like they should and this course would be beneficial and eye opening to everyone.
I think the history presented is incredibly valuable in understanding where we are now and how we got there.
This course taught me some basics about Indigenous culture and experiences in the US and Canada that I am ashamed that, in my 42 years of life, I didn’t already know. It was very valuable and the instructors were super understanding regarding where a non-Indigenous person might be coming from.
This series was a great way to learn history and how the current actions are affecting Indigenous people.
I have always been fascinated with Indigenous cultures and this learning is exactly what i was looking for to further my education.
Participating in this learning experience provided me with a base for Indigenous knowledge. There were different resources and platforms used that encouraged my learning and engaged me throughout the experience. I was most grateful to hear from the guest speakers and hear about their personal stories and actions their taking to advocate for Indigenous peoples.
This is a great module to build on an understanding of the importance of Indigenous cultures and education that is vital for survival of culture. Although I am not a part of a tribe or identify as Indigenous, I think everyone in the US and Canada as adults who have not been in our recent educational system with the new laws passed to take this module to better educate themselves.
Considering learning this important part of our history, it’s important that we better understand our own and others pasts to make us better people today.
This is professional learning series was actually educational and something you can incorporate into your classroom.
This course gave me insight into tangible/action-oriented ways I can be a better ally and partner with Indigenous Nations personally and professionally.
I believe that it is our responsibility to learn about the Indigenous history of our land and the people who came before us. Through 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning I was able to learn so much truth of the history before us.
This course helped me see beyond my experiences and bring honor to others. It’s very helpful when trying to respect different cultures of my students.
A personal journey to explore misconceptions and basic understanding of the Indigenous cultures.
Open your mind to the learnings and perspectives in this course. The history and information will probably be new and may contradict what you have learned but it is true and requires our attention.
This course is an opportunity to slow down and develop a deeper understanding of your relationship with the indigenous people of your land.
It is a lot to take in, do your best to sit and reflect, then pick just a few action items you’d like to tackle moving forward so you don’t become too overwhelmed.
I feel it is immensely important that people, indigenous and not, know this history. Unfortunately, in the US, what little authentic history about indigenous people taught in schools is now being removed, so it is incumbent upon everyone to educate themselves and share this knowledge.
If you are someone who feels connected to nature, know that your connection can expand considerably by hearing the stories and wisdom from Indigenous people across North America. By doing this, you will feel enlightened and encouraged to develop a reciprocal relationship with nature that will bring you endless wonder, awe and joy, and there is no better teacher than Indigenous teachers.
Participating in the 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning Season 1 has been an honour, and I look forward to Season 2. The presenters were generous and welcoming to all of us joining over the year. This is a small step on my part to try to move forward in my journey of learning and reconciliation. I am incredibly grateful to the presenters and the Outdoor Learning School & Store for providing this platform. Having access to the recordings and shared resources has allowed me to continue my journey from home and share this critical learning with others as we all embrace these truths and seek a hopeful and restorative future together.
I would recommend this course based on the amount of knowledge and wisdom shared within it's content. The various topics held my attention and left me wanting more!
Take your time, do not rush. Many of the concepts the speakers and lessons highlight will make you think about the messages and what they mean to you/how they apply in your life— both just after the lesson and over the next week, month, etc
This course uses indigenous practices to teach hard truths and challenge the learners to explore their own beliefs and prejudices and to take action. There is such a broad sampling of traditions and knowledge from across Turtle Island.
These seasons of learning have been a lifeline for me in my professional working life and personal healing journey as an indigenous person. Thank you for making this accessible and so full of amazing learnings. I have developed Land-Based programming over the years and these learnings have further enriched my understanding to share with community.
Taking this course has helped me, as a descendant, better understand issues affecting indigenous populations and our histories on both sides of the US/Canada border. I would encourage anyone curious to go ahead and join in the learning, the knowledge is priceless, and will help me going forward with new insights of the past, to work towards a healthier future!
This is an amazing learning opportunity! The knowledge that is shared with the learner is well presented, thought out and allows you to move through at your own pace which is helpful in this busy world.
This is an important part of 21st century reconciliation. The emerging climate crisis and devastation of the lands can only be mitigated by a greater appreciation for the habitat that these communities honor and respect. The Indigenous approach to living in harmony with nature should be a model for the future as the only path to sustainability.
This lesson was a great summary of the story of colonization in the U.S. and Canada. Highlighting the most important moments, and how change has been happening and needs to continue to happen. Also there are many additional resources provided for further learning.
This course provides an invaluable foundational understanding of the historical and contemporary realities of Turtle Island's Indigenous nations. It leaves you with a profound sense of responsibility to continue learning and actively supporting your local Indigenous communities. It's truly beneficial for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding and contribute to reconciliation.
As a Native person, I am familiar with the content of these lessons, but I found myself reflecting on things in a new and interesting way. These lessons where a great way for me to open conversations with other teachers that where also taking the lessons at the same time as me.
The Foundations of Knowledge is a great course to take to get to know some of the history that contributes to Indigenous people's stories of today as well as action items we can all take towards reconciliation.
This is a beautiful course of learning for anyone who cares about the Earth. We non-indigenous people have much to learn about stewardship and connection to our Earth.
This professional learning experience is worth every penny and every minute utilized. I believe every person will walk away with a different amount of new learning, validation of previous learning, and new resources to further explore.
This learning helps open our eyes to many struggles indigenous people have overcome, are still overcoming, to preserve their culture and their deep wisdom. This learning helped me realize how much more I have to learn and the importance and value of connecting with the indigenous communities where I live.
There are so many important lessons in these teachings, not just to better understand the history, culture and truths of indigenous people, but how these things can help all of us live better lives today and in the future.
Very insightful and provided many easily accessible calls to action. Often times the most difficult part about helping is knowing in which ways to help.
This is a great place to join the conversation about indigenous reparations. It outlines history and context, gives concrete tools for being an advocate, and inspires you to take action in your community!
I was not sure what to expect when I registered for this class, and I was thoroughly impressed with the content and especially the reflection portion of each lesson.
Beyond the knowledge directly provided by the course and speakers, the materials included a wealth of links for additional research.
I have learned so much and now have a better understanding of our history. It makes so much sense as to my upbringing and why my mother was the way she was and is now. It's heartbreaking, my only wish is for her to heal from all the trauma and for myself as well with intergenerational trauma.
This learning is life long and is a commitment to bettering ourselves as humans, educators and community members. This learning is essential to respect, reciprocity and reconciliation with the land, Indigenous people, and our own ancestors. This course is supportive to that learning and shifting the lens to the land.
This course is a eye-opener into a world of honor and respect, and really makes you think about yourself and how you can really help in the goal of Reconciliation and Native Narrative Change. This course opens up the past to better help one understand their role in unity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples.
After taking the Foundations of Knowledge course I now start to see changes in the ways I interact with the world. It provides with the groundwork to continue the process of decolonization and reconciliation. It also provides with the tools, base knowledge and wisdom from the teachings of indigenous people.
As a non-Indigenous preschool teacher, I feel like this learning was beneficial to strengthening my understanding of Indigenous history and the ongoing impacts of colonialism. I have gained valuable insight that will help me continually evolve and improve both my teaching practice and my individual social activism.
Year 1 provides a compassionate, truthful and thoughtful combination of presenters, guest speakers, text, images, videos, and journaling that are allowing me deeper understanding of reconciliation, grounded in feeling. I will apply to register for Year 2 and continue to thoughtfully and compassionately engage with family, friends, and extended community for reconciliation, including recommending this learning.
Knowledge is power. Take every opportunity presented.
Take it! You won't regret it.
This learning opportunity provides an introduction to Indigenous perspectives in the USA and Canada. The live presentations are an excellent opportunity to understand individual perspectives and stories and to feel included in this learning community.
It is important to listen and learn from those who hold intergenerational knowledge and trauma. This course is one brick in a foundation of anti-racism.
If you're considering taking this training - do it! You will be rewarded with great presenters, insightful information and resources to get you thinking, and new momentum in this life-long journey of connecting with and learning about indigenous history and culture in a respectful way.
This learning was welcoming, positive, and hopeful while also acknowledging the serious challenges of this process. I appreciate the creativity and practical nature of the resources provided - I feel supported and inspired to dive deeper into this movement's work.
As a non-indigenous guest, this course both inspires and humbles my understanding of how to be in right relation. I feel more equipped to have reflected on the areas that I need to engage in more when reflecting on my responsibility as a guest on these lands.
This should be mandatory for all people living in the United States. It was an engaging learning experience.
As the saying goes, "just do it". There is always something to learn and always ways to be more connected to our friends and colleagues. This course is beautifully produced and accessible to anyone, no matter where they are on their learning journey.
This learning experience provides a solid basis of understanding of indigenous issues and considerations. It highlights that indigenous cultures are alive and striving to reengage their cultures that were systematically subjected to attempted cultural genocide. In spite of such efforts the spirit of these peoples is resilient.
This learning opportunity provides an introduction to Indigenous perspectives in the USA and Canada. The live presentations are an excellent opportunity to understand individual perspectives and stories and to feel included in this learning community.
If you are wanting a place to start, a place to begin to educate yourself and reflect on perspective, this course is a wonderful place to begin.
The Foundations of Knowledge learning was an eye opening experience. I knew of the atrocities committed against Indigenous Nations in the US and Canada but did not know that there is still so much work to be done towards reconciliation. I plan to continue obtaining knowledge in this regard with the intent of becoming an advocate for change.
I'm so glad I had the opportunity to take Season One of the Four Seasons of Indigenous Knowledge course! It was a phenomenal experience learning from Indigenous and First Nations speakers and I can't wait to take Season Two!
Don’t go too fast. Take the time to really think about what you hear here. Make time to be on the land.
The amount of information packed into these rather short lessons is astounding. Take full advantage of the additional resources shared throughout the lessons.
The 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning provided a great resource for me to gain deeper knowledge of Indigenous culture and how to interact positively. I enjoyed learning, growing and acknowledging deficits in my own knowledge.
This learning experience was enlightening and incredibly valuable in contributing to my personal understanding of the importance of truth and reconciliation. I appreciated every presentation and perspective that was generously shared and I valued the detailed learning modules. The ability to watch the presentations and complete the learning modules at my own time and pace also made it easy to incorporate into my work schedule.
This learning has opened my heart. Sometimes there was sadness and grief as I realized the truth that had been covered up and denied. But also joy, encouragement, and gratitude for all that I have learned. This class will truly inspire you to deepen your wisdom and connection with the earth. After all, that is why we are here, isn't it.
I especially appreciated the sequence the modules and recordings presented, guiding us through historic truth, the meaning behind past and present treaties, the indigenous people of today, and reconciliation -- all while considering the impact we can have on helping support and preserve the indigenous culture of Turtle Island.
this class to be an incredible resource and access point for learning about Indigenous history and decolonizing education.
Excellent introduction to learning about common topics related to Native history and Native peoples. Provides a foundation from which you can engage more deeply on topics that intersect with everyday life (like wondering how to support Native artists, understanding social movements you may have seen already, and guidelines for attending Native events like pow wows).
The 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning/Foundations of Knowledge experience created a base knowledge that I will share with others taking the course. The supplemental presentations and resources provided additional learnings that round out the entire experience.
This was an approachable beginning to the conversations we need to be having around indigenous peoples and their lands. I was clear and thoughtful and everyone can be if it from these important teachings.
In her presentation, Sasha Eugene said, "They have just been able to perfect the way that they try to rid our lands of our people." To stop this harm, it's up to all of us to perfect how we practice reconciliation and work together to build a better future. This learning provides essential resources to implement change.
Do it! This is an invaluable resource and space. Should be required for all non-indigenous-to-Turtle-Island humans living in the U.S. and Canada.
