270 pre-interns, 10 OTC facilitators, 10 Elders, and 10 faculty and staff. Photo courtesy of Julie Machnaik
Before third-year pre-interns go into schools for their 3-week field experiences, they participate in extensive professional development. Treaty education is a significant part of their learning experience.
This fall (September 13), three bus loads of pre-interns went to the Treaty 4 Gathering at Fort Qu’Appelle, and while there, experienced the Kairos Blanket Exercise along with Treaty 4 cultural activities.
Pre-interns at Treaty 4 Gathering. Photo courtesy of Julie Machnaik
Ten facilitators from the Office of Treaty Commissioners, 10 elders, and 10 faculty and staff worked with 270 pre-interns on September 23 and 24 at the University of Regina. Students were given opportunities to interact with Elders and received instruction on treaties and treaty education.
Place cursor over the photo above to scroll through photo gallery. (Photos courtesy of Instructor Julie Machnaik)
Twitter talk:
Feeling inspired after a great weekend of professional development! Thank you for the amazing opportunities @URFacofEdpic.twitter.com/VL0TWL2CGf
In spring 2017, The Faculty of Education’s Indigenous Family Therapies Class (EPSY 870AB) in partnership with the Indigenous Peoples’ Health Research Centre (IPHRC) have planted a Project of Heart Reconciliation Garden.
The Objectives of this project in our class were:
• To present a culturally-competent counseling intervention by integrating Indigenous knowledge within the more modern ecopsychology approach;
• To encourage a three-way therapeutic alliance between counselor, client, and nature as co-therapist;
• To deconstruct the modern therapeutic “space” by promoting nature-based therapeutic interventions; and
• To identify gardening as a social justice approach.
We based our garden design around the Honouring Memories Planting Dreams
Celebrated in May and June, Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams invites individuals and organizations to join in reconciliation by planting heart gardens in their communities. Heart gardens honour residential school survivors and their families, as well as the legacy of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Each heart represents the memory of a child lost to the residential school system, and the act of planting represents that individual’s commitment to finding their place in reconciliation. In 2016, more than 6500 hearts were planted in gardens across Canada.
Videos
For more information about the Reconciliation garden, please contact:
JoLee Sasakamoose – JoLee.Sasakamoose@uregina.ca
John Klein – John.Klein@uregina.ca
Gallery Reposting from https://reginaediblecampus.wordpress.com/le-potager/
Veronica Segura Picado and Luis Bolanos Gomez (Photo credit: Shuana Niessen)
“It has changed my life,” says Veronica Segura Picado of San Jose, Costa Rica. Luis Bolanos Gomez, of the Province of Alajuela, Costa Rica agrees, “It was just amazing.” Veronica and Luis are summing up their time here as exchange students from the University of Costa Rica.
The two students arrived in Regina in the frigid temperatures of late December. “We didn’t know anything about Saskatchewan and we were counting the days to come here,” says Luis. “We were expecting a big city, but no… We were not expecting the flat land,” says Luis, with his hands outlining the horizon.
Veronica adds, “Our first reaction when we got out of the plane was, ‘Snow!’ We were super excited.” Luis adds, “We don’t have snow in Costa Rica!”
After spending a winter semester at the University of Regina, however, Veronica admits there were times she didn’t like the cold weather. “Twice, I froze my feet and I was at the point of wanting to cry, ‘Why am I here?'” Luis, however, maintains that, “winter was amazing.”
At the University of Costa Rica, Veronica is in her 4th year of a Bachelor’s degree in Teaching English (as a second language), with only one semester left to finish. Luis is finished his Bachelor’s degree in Teaching English and will convocate in August. Competency in the English language is important in Costa Rica. Luis says, “It is a must to speak English if you want to get a good job.” Veronica adds, “International companies are coming to Costa Rica and you have to know English to get a job.” Their aim in becoming exchange students was to improve their English: “We wanted to go to a country where they speak English. We wanted to come and practice and learn.” When their exchange coordinator told them about Canada, they said, “Yah!”
While at the University of Regina, Veronica took Linguistics and Diversity, English as a Second Language, and Introduction to Dance Education. Luis took English as a Second Language, Self and Other, and Acting Theory and Practice. When asked about the highlight of their time here, Veronica responded, “Everything! It has changed my life.” Before she came here, Veronica says, “I didn’t really like children.” But volunteer work with ESL and ELL students gave her a new perspective. She says, “Oh, it changed my life, working with children from Syria, Africa, China, Korea; for me it was just amazing. I also did work teaching Spanish, being the teacher of Spanish with 29 kids—all of them speak English—it was amazing because they got super engaged with the classes.” When the class was over, Veronica was touched when her students said, “We [will] miss you a lot…will you eventually come back to teach us Spanish again?” Veronica says, “Now I love children.”
For Luis, “the most amazing experience here is the multicultural environment, like knowing people from all over the world, knowing differences about culture, everything about those experiences that make people, people.” Veronica agrees, “Here in a multicultural environment, I have met people from 34 different nationalities and that is really of value to me. I learned to be super tolerant of differences because here you have different cultures and you know how to live with that, like being patient.”
For instance, Luis says, “We know a guy from Japan who is so on time for everything, but for us we are, so very relaxed. Same, for example, with hugs and kisses, we are used to that; every time we see somebody and say goodbye to somebody, we hug and kiss, but here, with most of the countries, they are like ‘no, just bye.’ Being tolerant and understanding that there is a completely different world from our culture and the world we know to be there—it opens your mind.”
As for difficulties, Veronica and Luis agreed that stereotypes were a negative aspect of their experience here. They offer this advice: “If you don’t know where someone is from, just ask; don’t make assumptions based on appearance.” Costa Rica is not the same as Puerto Rico, and is not in Mexico or Africa. “At the beginning it was kind of fun, but when a bunch of people don’t know anything about your country… it feels better if you ask, just ask.”
Other learning included becoming more confident, and more independent. Veronica says, “Every day you have to cook for yourself; you learn how to live by yourself; you have to be independent. This experience has been the experience in my life!” Luis adds, “It was just amazing. Here you learn to have more confidence. The first week here, the university was closed, and we had to start meeting people. We had to find and get to know people. It was a great experience…really helpful. One of the best experiences of my life.”
Both Luis and Veronica stayed in the residence, which they found added to their experience. Veronica says, “Residence is so good: the activities they prepare for you, and exposure with other people are really good.” Luis adds, “Exchange students are super close. There are students from Brazil, Italy,…we speak English when we are together.” Luis values, “all the friends that we made, people that we will never forget, who will stay in our memories forever.” Veronica agrees and adds, “People from Canada, you are so amazing—I love Canadians. You are so kind and you are willing to help people, no matter what, you are always willing to help people. It’s amazing.”
Veronica plans to return. She says, “if everything goes well, I will be here in May next year to, eventually, take my Master’s here. I love Regina.” As for Luis, he plans “to go all over the world, visit all my friends, and eventually come back to Canada. Why not!”
On Tuesday, March 28, Henry Janzen School hosted students from the University of Regina, Faculty of Education, ECE 325 class for an evening of fun and learning. The university students were enrolled in an Early Childhood Education course focusing on experiential learning or learning by doing. Part of the the course work was to create a hands-on experience, an invitation, connected to the curriculum for children in Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 3.
The parents and families had a wonderful time exploring the invitations. The university students enjoyed the opportunity to share their invitations iwth the families and receive feedback on how children and adults interacted with the materials they had shared. It was an excellent collaboration.
by Jackie Sakatch, Grade 1 Teacher, Henry Janzen (Published in an RBE newsletter)
SUNTEP Regina Coordinator Janice Thompson (Photo credit: Shuana Niessen)
A Michif 100 language course is now being offered to Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP) Regina students. SUNTEP Regina Coordinator Janice Thompson says, “What makes our program unique and distinct is that we are the first post-secondary institution to offer [the Michif] language course.”
Michif is the indigenous language of many Métis. However, “the Michif language which was once common in Métis communities is now considered an endangered language as there are fewer that 1000 people who speak it.”[1]
Thompson says, “Offering the Michif 100 course continues to reaffirm our commitment to Métis people alongside our mission statement: to promote the renewal and development of Métis culture through research, materials development, collection and distribution of those materials and the design, development and delivery of Métis-specific educational programs and services.” The introduction of the new course was celebrated at the Student Success Celebration, held March 7, 2017.
Gabriel Dumont Institute – SUNTEP, in partnership with the University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan, has been offering elementary teacher training for over 35 years and currently boasts 1206 graduates from Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert programs.
“To be learning Michif now at my age, as an adult, is exciting, but also very difficult. Learning the language of my people is very important to me as it enhances what I’m learning about my traditions and culture.” Jenny Veilleux, first-year SUNTEP student (Photo credit: Shuana Niessen)
First year SUNTEP Regina student Jenny Veilleux says she feels “fortunate to be one of the first students in Canada to take a Michif class, which is the first one to be offered anywhere ever. Michif is a dying language, with few fluent speakers; it needs to be saved so it can flourish once again. My family was enfranchised in the 1950’s, which unfortunately means they assimilated into the European culture.”
Jenny continues: “Ultimately, they lost most of the languages that they were born to speak during the process. My grandparents spoke between 5-7Indigenous languages and Michif was one. I only grew up hearing phrases or words, never being fully immersed in the language. To be learning Michif now at my age, as an adult, is exciting, but also very difficult. Learning the language of my people is very important to me as it enhances more of what I’m learning about my traditions and culture. This is necessary for many people in Canada, to prevent it from being completely lost.”
Alanis King, an Odawa playwright, director and educator originally from the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, was a special speaker for Dr. Anna-Leah King’s Reading Education class. Alanis (sister to Anna-Leah) is the first Aboriginal woman to graduate from the National Theatre School of Canada, and she has been Artistic Director of Askiy Productions, the Debajehmujig Theatre Group, Native Earth Performing Arts in Toronto and Saskatchewan Native Theatre where she taught risk-prone inner city youth life skills through drama. She has produced, toured, directed and developed a wide range of plays in many First Nation communities across the continent.
(l-r) Alanis King and Dr. Anna-Leah King
This evening, Wednesday, February 15, in the Classroom Building (CL 112) at 8:00 p.m., Alanis will be reading in the Playwright’s Reading Series, hosted by the Media, Arts and Performance (MAP) Faculty, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Writer’s Guild with the assistance of the Playwrights Guild of Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts.
Les étudiants du programme du Bac (DLNG 315) ont organisé et participé à une Soirée de Poésie le 7 décembre, 2016 à La Cite Universitaire Francophone. Chaque étudiant ou étudiante a lu un poème ou un texte en français devant les spectateurs. La salle était remplie d’émotion et de joie lorsqu’on a pris le temps de partager et d’apprécier la beauté des mots et la richesse de la poésie.
Third year students in the French Bac Programme (DLNG 315) organised and participated in a Soirée de Poésie (poetry night) as a part of their language and literacy course in elementary teaching. The event took place on December 7th, 2016 at La Cité Universitaire Francophone. Each student selected or composed a poem to read and perform during the event. The room filled with emotion and joy as we listened and shared the beauty and richness of words and poetry en français.
To see gallery, slide cursor over the first photo and click on the arrow to go to the next photo.
Dr. Gale Russell’s EMTH 300 students crafted some Indigenous games of chance, which they also had fun playing once they had created them. Beyond learning math content, preservice teachers, who will work with children in their future math classrooms, must learn how to make learning accessible, fun, engaging, and culturally responsive. Students accessed these games at http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/rr/database/rr.09.00/treptau1/
Photo Gallery (Slide cursor over the photo below and click on the arrow to see the next photos)
Dr. Kathryn Rickett’s Education Dance Students (EDN101) enjoyed a mixed abilities studio with Sunshine Preschoolers. Students had opportunity to tutor preschoolers one-to-one in sessions as well.
Reposting from https://reginaediblecampus.wordpress.com/le-potager/
