INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND WAYS OF KNOWING IN SCIENCE

When we teach science as a collection of facts and figures written down in books we take away the beauty that is science. Science is observable, it’s experiential, it’s lived, and it is all around us and has been for all time. 

Indigenous peoples all around the world explored and understood scientific phenomena long before many of the facts that we have learned from textbooks were ever written down. Indigenous peoples have strong oral histories that teach valuable scientific facts. When we ignore these teachings we are not being respectful of the deep traditional knowledge, laws, and philosophies of the Indigenous peoples that have inhabited these lands since time immemorial.

As teachers plan, the following questions can be used to consider how Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing can be highlighted and explored in more depth to enrich students' learning about scientific concepts and honour and value Indigenous contributions.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' CURRICULUM RESOURCES (STAO)

• The Science Teachers' Association of Ontario has created and curated a series of resources, lessons, and activities related to Indigenous scientists, issues, knowledge, and ways of knowing.

FNMIEAO: INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENCE

• The First Nations, Metis & Inuit Education Association of Ontario has developed and curated resources to support science educators in incorporating Indigenenous knowledge in their courses. WRDSB has a board membership and educators should connect with an Itinerant Coach to access the board login information.

WRDSB INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENCE RESOURCES

• These resources have been curated to align with the expectations in the SNC1W course. This is a living document and will continue to be updated as new resources are identified. 

WRDSB INDIGENOUS LEARNING TEAM

• The Indigenous learning team is available to support WRDSB employees in weaving Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing into your courses.  Educators are encouraged to connect with the team for support with resources and instructional design. Requests for support can be made by completing THIS FORM.