Indigenous Cultural Knowledge Credit

Who is this for?

Students in Grade 9-12 who self-identify as First Nation, Métis, or Inuit.

It is vital that KPR continue to strive to offer a model of decolonized education that is found in Truth and Reconciliation and works towards the engagement and revitalization of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit culture, language and knowledge.

Note: You can begin collecting hours during the summer before Grade 9 (after you graduate from Grade 8). All hours and your reflection must be submitted before the end of May in your Grade 12 year.

What is an Indigenous Cultural Knowledge Credit?

An opportunity for Indigenous youth to earn an OSSD credit for engagement in cultural learning outside and inside school settings. This will include both extra-curricular and community based learning and engagement.

One (1) credit for 110 hours of engagement in Cultural Knowledge Learning from the moment a student enters the summer after Grade 8 until graduation from Grade 12.  In addition students who record in excess of 220 hours of engagement are eligible for additional one (1) credit, for a total of two (2) credits.

Students can engage in Indigenous cultural activity through school programming. Students can also acquire knowledge through community based programming during the evenings, weekends and holidays with Indigenous providers or family and community activities.  

Everything will be tracked and stored using BrightSpace/D2L. All tracking forms and portfolio items will be submitted through this online learning platform.

Curriculum Connections

This is an IDC 4M credit inspired by the Essential Understandings in the Ontario Curriculum for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Studies.

You may explore one or all of the following:

Essential Understandings: learn from cultural activities that promote development of an understanding of Community, Ancestral Knowledge, Traditional Knowledge, Land, Interconnectedness of all things, Cultural diversity, and/or Treaty rights.

Identity: demonstrate an understanding of self, and of how Indigenous identity and diversity may be defined or affirmed through community and/or cultural learning.

Connections to the Land: demonstrate an understanding of the significance of the land to your community and/or develop a traditional land-based skill.

Indigenous Knowledge and Oral Traditions: demonstrate an understanding of the role of Indigenous knowledge, storytelling, and storywork in fulfilling communal responsibilities, sustaining world views, and protecting cultural heritage. 

Cultural Education:  learn from engaging in elements of culture, such as clothing and regalia; stories; songs, music, dances; and cultural practices – that have developed over time on the basis of the beliefs and values of the culture and that are respected, honoured, and passed on from generation to generation to express and communicate those shared beliefs and values. 

Language Education: demonstrate an understanding of Indigenous language learning that takes place outside of another credit earning course.

Assessment

Successful completion of a credit includes:

Tracking and submitting documentation for 110 hours of cultural activities.

After you have accumulated 110 hours, submit Reflection for Portfolio.

Assessment will be completed by the Academic Support Liaison at the Urban Indigenous Alternative Secondary School Program and supervised by the System Principal of Program: Indigenous Education, with results submitted to the home school Principal for entry into transcript.  In addition students who record in excess of 220 hours of engagement are eligible for additional one (1) credit, for a total of two (2) credits. 

How to Register

A Guidance teacher at your high school will submit your name to michael_sherwin@kprdsb.ca. Once you are registered, you will have access to the tracking forms and culminating task information in D2L/Brightspace.

Once you have completed the credit, the Principal of Indigenous Education will contact your school to have it added to your transcript.

How to Earn a Credit

1.  Engage in Indigenous cultural activity through school programming, in the community, or with your family. Please consider your safety (as you would if doing volunteer work).

2. Indigenous Cultural Knowledge Tracking Form (It will require signature by the Knowledge Keeper or organizer of the activity). 

3. Upload the tracking form to "Hours." Your hours will accumulate here. You can upload as many forms as you need over time. One for each activity. This is all done in D2L/Brightspace.

4. Upload any pictures or other files that document your experience to "Portfolio" in D2L/Brightspace.

5. When you accumulate 110 hours, submit a Reflection (culminating task) to "Portfolio" in D2L/Brightspace.