Story submitted by André Léger, Associate Dean, School of Contemporary Teaching & Learning (SCTL)
The School of Contemporary Teaching & Learning (SCTL) has partnered with Helena Neveu, Knowledge Keeper at SLC, to create a new learning opportunity as part the College’s commitment to Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being.
This new learning opportunity has been shaped by Helena’s focus on oral tradition, experiential learning, and reflective practice. Faculty begin this process by meeting with Helena so they may engage in meaningful discussion on the learning outcomes of a particular course and discuss how these may intersect with Indigenous knowledge.
These discussions may lead to a formal classroom visit where Helena will meet with students to share a story or teaching but can also lead to more opportunities for promote allyship by sharing other resources with students. Professor Kieva Hranchuk recently engaged in this process with Helena and shared her reflection with the SCTL:
“As a faculty member, I recently went through the process of meeting with SLC’s Knowledge Keeper, Helena Neveu, in an attempt to find the best way to incorporate indigenous ways of knowing and being within our Behavioural Psychology Ethics curriculum. The meeting I had with Helena ended up being more of an experience than a meeting itself. The passion that Helena exhibited toward her position and its importance within our community shone through and I ended up learning more about her culture and the experiences of her people within that short period of time than I could have ever expected. Helena’s approach to teaching and learning is innovative, creative, and pushes the boundaries of traditional education.” - Professor Kieva Hranchuk
The requirement for reflective practice during this process speaks to our collectively commitment to reciprocity as faculty and staff continue to demonstrate their personal growth in learning about Indigenous knowledge.
In this time of digital learning, we give thanks by offering a symbolic gesture of placing tobacco in front of our cameras and extending our left hands from our heart towards Helena to demonstrate our gratitude for her teachings. We look forward to learning more from Helena as we continue our journey on Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
Call to Action
Faculty can coordinate a meeting with Helena by selecting “Classroom Visit” option from the list of SCTL services on the bookings page. This enables them to select a time that is best suited to meet with Helena and engage in these powerful discussions.
Learn more about the SCTL at www.TeachatSLC.ca