Summit 20 VANCOUVER Jan 26-27, 2018 PINNACLE HOTEL VANCOUVER HARBOURFRONT THE INDIGENOUS EDUCATION Summit-within-a Summit Session 1 (Workshop 5) 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Kaleb Child and Dr. Scott Benwell Setting the Stage – Directions in Indigenous Education and the Summit Experience This session will overview the current directions being taken by the Ministry of Education and Six School Districts in addressing systemic barriers impacting Aboriginal student achievement. A focus on equity of opportunity for learners and a collaborative approach is driving a review of current practices and policies that may be creating obstacles for Aboriginal learners in the BC system. This project defines a collaborative decision making process for school districts and educators to enter into a genuine and meaningful dialogue about the experience of education for Aboriginal learners and to respond in strategic ways to create conditions for success. This session will allow participants to interact with the equity scan framework and to exchange ideas with co-participants on how they can apply concepts and actions in their schools and communities. Kaleb Child, Musgamdzi is a member of the Kwakiutl (Kwagiulth) First Nation on northern Vancouver Island and has strong cultural knowledge through his family connections as a traditional singer and dancer amongst the Kwak’wala speaking peoples. In addition to culture and community education, Kaleb obtained a B. Ed degree as a graduate of the Indigenous Teachers Education Program (NITEP, University of British Columbia) and a Master’s Degree in Education (University of Victoria). He has 22 years of experience in education in both teaching and administration in Band- operated schools, Post-Secondary Programs, early learning and in BC public education K - 12. His education and professional experience has been connected closely to First Nations communities throughout his career as a teacher, director and educational leader. In his role across communities he works to enhance and support leadership development committed to Equitable learning environments, an Indigenous vision for pedagogy, authentic Aboriginal learning connections for all learners, language and culture revitalization, and strengthening meaningful relationships across communities. Kaleb currently lives in Victoria with his partner Yakawilas, Coreen Child (Wilson), and their three daughters, Tłakweł’ganaxw, Kiara, Tłakwa’gila’ogwa, Natalya, and Tłakwa’ga, Mariah. Dr. Scott Benwell has over 20 years of educational leadership experience in British Columbia, Yukon and Alberta. Living, working, and serving in the territories of First Nations and across the diversity of much of western Canada has been an influential part of defining Scott’s educational leadership philosophy and professional practice. Most recently he served as Superintendent of Schools/CEO of School District 85 (Vancouver Island North) for five years before being seconded to the British Columbia Ministry of Education. Scott earned a PhD in Educational Leadership from the University of Calgary in 2005 and continues to have research interests in school effectiveness and improvement, responsive learning environments and leadership that makes a difference and creates equity of opportunity for each learner. Scott and his partner, Catherine, are the proud parents of two young men with minds and aspirations of their own. They currently reside on northern Vancouver Island in the traditional territory of the Kwakwaka’wakw. Session 2 (Workshop 14) 2:40 pm - 4:00 pm Jo-Anne (Jo) Chrona Beyond the Poster on the Wall: The First Peoples Principles of Learning as a Framework for Transformation and Equity How do we create education systems that support the success of every learner? How do we engage in Reconciliation through education, and what are our individual roles within this process? We begin with challenging some of the long held assumptions about education that continue to exist in our education systems today. We transform education by challenging ourselves to engage in our own learning first, and then we build stronger education systems for all learners by building on the strengths that we each bring to the discussion. The First Peoples Principles of Learning (FPPL) are making an impact on our education system, but we have only begun to understand how they can be used as a framework to support positive and effective teaching and learning in our schools, classrooms, and communities. Join us for a discussion about how we can take our individual and collective next steps in our own learning journeys to ensure vital, responsive and equitable education experiences for all our students. We will explore such questions as: • What do our schools and classrooms look and sound like when they are grounded in the First Peoples Principles of Learning? • How can we use the FPPL as a framework for our practice to support an equitable education system for Indigenous learners? • What does it feel like for students? For families? For you as an educator? Jo-Anne (Jo) Chrona is currently the Curriculum Coordinator for the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC). Her professional experience includes 20 years teaching in both the K-12 and post-secondary systems in DAY 1 JANUARY 26, 2018 5