In Indigenizing our new course on family violence, we attempted some innovative ways to enhance the learning and support wellness of the students. With the assistance of the Office of Indigenization and Elder Buckshot, we were able to do land-based learning and learning from Elders by way of multimedia. We also created Indigenous wellness bundles for the students as an opportunity to directly (physically) learn about and experience Indigenous wellness practices. All of this work culminated into a mini-documentary, expressing our magical and meaningful experience.
WHAT WERE THE MAIN GOALS OF THIS PROJECT?
Create a new family violence course for Family Justice Services Division.
Indigenize the course.
Have a focus on supporting the wellness of the students (front-line workers) taking it.
HOW DOES THIS DEMONSTRATE INNOVATION?
We used multimedia to capture Elder Buckshot’s Teaching and incorporate them into the course. We also used Indigenous Teachings and Practices to support wellness of these students.
We did some of the filming on the land and this involved working with the Nation, developing relationships, following protocols and requiring new ways to think about our work.
The process of Indigenizing this project led us to create a mini-documentary articulating all that we learned, experienced and felt.
WHAT WERE THE PROBLEMS OR CHALLENGES YOU FACED WORKING ON THIS PROJECT?
Having the resources (human and financial) to do this correctly and well. For example, doing land- based filming required more resources.
Staying with the timelines committed to.
The land-based filming was weather dependent and required extra planning (and stress!).
LESSONS LEARNED
Be aware of implications of Indigenization activities on project budget and timelines.
Throughout the project, consult and keep the Office of Indigenization informed of all Indigenization activities.
Collaboration and being open, brings great ideas.
TECHNOLOGY USED
video
PROJECT LINK
N/A
