Indigenous Education: Ethical Practices for Equity, Relationality and Reconciliation with Michelle Smith

EDPE 595: FALL 2024 SEMESTER

Indigenous Education: Ethical Practices for Equity, Relationality and Reconciliation with Michelle Smith

This Special Topics seminar will introduce students to historical and contemporary Indigenous realities from a Métis perspective. Through engagement with Indigenous authored works, guests from diverse nations, critical discussion, arts-based and reflective projects, students will learn about diverse Indigenous pedagogies and knowledges, systemic barriers to educational equity and the place of education in Indigenous sovereignties.

Students will also explore best practices for creating reconciliatory learning spaces in their schools, workplaces and communities.

Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith is a Red River Michif educator and filmmaker from St. James, Manitoba and a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation. She has worked in Indigenous education for over a decade as a teacher, advocate, researcher, mentor and program developer at Quebec colleges and in community contexts.

Her doctorate involves co-constructing creative teaching and learning spaces that foster healing and cultural connection; she is currently working with Inuit youth to co-develop an arts-based college degree program in Nunavik, northern Quebec. Research interests include storytelling, participatory media and Métis methodologies, community-based education, decolonizing practices and Indigenous educational sovereignty. She is a Vanier scholar and Assistant Professor in the department Education Counselling Psychology at McGill.

Registrations: This course is open to Masters students from all faculties. Undergraduate students may register, space permitting. Interested students are invited to contact ecpinfo.education [at] mcgill.ca

For more information, contact: michelle.e.smith [at] mcgill.ca