Decolonizing Education

In the spirit of truth and reconciliation, it is critical that administrators, faculty, staff, and students each do their part to decolonize education. Western Education tends to discredit Indigenous information and knowledge systems, as they don’t conform to the standards required in Western education systems. 

Indigenous people have relied on oral histories, rather than written languages, since time immemorial. Teachings and history was, and is, frequently passed to future generations through stories, ceremonies, and songs.

This often leaves knowledge and facts held as true by Indigenous peoples to be viewed as "inferior" or “primitive” in the context of Western education. In decolonizing education, Indigenous knowledge must be viewed as equitable to Western ways of teaching and learning.

Please refer to the linked resources below for more information. 

• Decolonization: Indigeneity, Education, Society 

• Decolonization  

These guides are the result of a collaboration between a committee of Indigenous education leaders from BC universities, colleges, and institutes, the First Nations Education Steering Committee, the Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association, and Métis Nation BC. We thank them for their guidance, support, and generosity. The content in these guides is authored by teams of Indigenous and ally writers from across BC. We thank them for sharing their knowledge and wisdom with others. 

• Pulling Together: Foundations Guide

• Pulling Together: A Guide for Curriculum Developers

• Pulling Together: A Guide for Front-Line Staff, Student Services, and Advisor

• Pulling Together: A Guide for Leaders and Administrator

• Pulling Together: A Guide for Researchers, Hiłḵ̓ala

• Pulling Together: A Guide for Teachers and Instructors