Culture and Language: Respecting Wisdom Activity
Total Time: Approx. 60 minutes
Context: School Administrators
Strategy: Video Response Chart
Participants respond to statements about First Nation, Métis and Inuit cultures and languages in schools before and after viewing Respecting Wisdom videos.
This strategy can be adapted for use with other Walking Together topic areas. Word documents may be revised as needed.
Activity 1: Complete First Part of Video Response Chart
Handout: Video Response Chart 
Distribute the handout and ask participants to read the statements and indicate if they agree or disagree.
Activity 2: View Respecting Wisdom Videos
Form small groups. After each video, allow time for discussion as needed.
Mary Wells (1:48 minutes) Métis Elder Mary Wells, Elizabeth Settlement, shares her experiences of translating children’s songs into Cree and teaching them to her students.
Kathy Yellowhorne-Breaker (3:44 minutes) Blackfoot educator from Siksika Nation, Kathy Yellowhorne-Breaker shares how the Blackfoot culture and language are incorporated into the school where she is the principal. She talks about how Elders enhance her school in areas such as discipline and the teaching of traditional knowledge.
Janette Flett-Jones (2:39 minutes) Dene Suliné Knowledge Keeper from Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations, Janette Flett-Jones is one of the last generation of Dene speakers. She shares her feelings of responsibility to teach the Dene language to others.
Shirley Cardinal (48 seconds) Dene Suliné Elder from Cold Lake First Nation, Shirley Cardinal speaks about how she is connected to the Earth and is proud to be part of a great nation with spiritual values and respect for others. She feels like she was “gifted” with her language and wants to share her knowledge.
Wilton Goodstriker (1:19 minutes) Blackfoot Elder from the Kainai First Nation, Wilton Goodstriker shares how the Blackfoot language opens up a “world of metaphors” and how the Blackfoot worldview is situated in the language. Teaching the language, he states, helps young people to become “comfortable with who they are” and to learn how they can “connect in a spiritual way.” He also shares knowledge and significance of the sacred “peace pipes.”
Wayne Jackson (5:01 minutes) Cree educator and artist from the Whitefish Lake First Nations, Wayne “Good Spirit” Jackson shares his experiences of reviving the Cree language in schools. He also comments on how powerful the artists are in Indigenous communities.
After viewing all videos, ask participants to review the statements in the Video Response Chart and complete the After Viewing and Comments columns.
Activity 3: Discuss Video Response Chart
Reconvene as a large group and encourage participants to share their responses to the videos. You may want to review each statement and ask for comments on whether or not participants changed their agreement/disagreement with the statement and why.
Encourage your staff to use Walking Together whenever they need to more information about First Nation, Métis and Inuit cultures and perspectives in schools.
