Hello Educators,

Professional development in Indigenous education often requires travel, hotel bookings, conference fees, and time away from school.

This week, there’s an opportunity to learn from leading voices in First Nations education without leaving your classroom or office.

The Think Indigenous Education Conference in Regina is being livestreamed LIVE by Powwow Times, allowing educators anywhere to watch powerful conversations about Indigenous education as they happen.

You can watch the livestream here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/zjcDjcVFVEk?si=2-gPCkp1c1tEFEqC

This week’s foundational message:

Listening directly to Indigenous educators and leaders is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen cultural literacy in our schools.

Foundational Teaching: Learning From Indigenous Voices

Across Canada, educators are working to bring Indigenous knowledge, perspectives, and history into classrooms in meaningful ways.

But many teachers share the same challenge:

Where do I start?

Conferences like Think Indigenous help answer that question.

Events like this bring together:

• First Nations educators

• Knowledge keepers

• school leaders

• community advocates

• policy leaders

• and Indigenous education specialists

Their shared focus is practical:

How do we bring Indigenous knowledge into classrooms respectfully, accurately, and meaningfully?

Topics often include:

• Indigenous ways of knowing and teaching

• Language revitalization in schools

• Treaty education

• culturally responsive teaching

• building relationships with local Nations

• supporting Indigenous student success

For educators, hearing directly from Indigenous speakers adds depth that textbooks alone cannot provide.

It shifts learning from theory to lived experience.

Why Livestream Access Matters

Attending conferences is valuable, but travel is not always possible.

A typical conference trip may involve:

• travel costs

• hotel accommodations

• meals

• registration fees

• time away from family or work responsibilities

Livestream access removes those barriers.

With the Powwow Times livestream, educators can:

• watch from their classroom

• watch from their office

• gather staff in a meeting room

• share sessions with colleagues

• pause and discuss key ideas together

It becomes professional learning that is accessible and flexible.

And it allows more educators to hear these voices — not just those who can travel.

Quote of the Week

“Education is the key to reconciliation.”
— Justice Murray Sinclair

Justice Sinclair often emphasized that education plays a central role in reconciliation.

But reconciliation doesn’t happen through policy documents alone.

It happens when educators are given opportunities to:

• listen

• learn

• reflect

• and bring that knowledge into their classrooms

Events like Think Indigenous help create those opportunities.

Practical Classroom Application

If you watch part of the livestream, here are ways to turn it into meaningful learning for yourself or your school:

1. Watch With Colleagues

Invite other teachers or staff to watch a session together.

Afterward, ask:

• What idea stood out the most?

• What could we bring into our school?

Professional conversations like these can spark meaningful change.

2. Reflect on One Practical Idea

Instead of trying to implement everything at once, focus on one actionable takeaway.

For example:

• a new way to approach Treaty education

• a new perspective on Indigenous worldviews

• ideas for bringing local culture into lessons

Small changes often lead to lasting improvements.

3. Share With Students

If a speaker discusses a powerful story or teaching, consider sharing that learning with students.

For example:

• Discuss why Indigenous languages matter.

• Talk about the importance of community knowledge keepers.

• Explore how culture and identity support student success.

Learning becomes more powerful when it is shared.

4. Connect Learning to Your Local Context

Every school sits on Indigenous land.

Watching speakers discuss Indigenous education may inspire questions like:

• Which Nation’s territory are we on?

• Are there local Elders or knowledge keepers we could invite?

• How can we deepen relationships with local communities?

These questions help turn knowledge into action.

Resources for Educators

Here are additional ways to deepen your learning after the livestream:

1. Think Indigenous Conference Livestream
Watch the conference sessions here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/zjcDjcVFVEk?si=2-gPCkp1c1tEFEqC

2. National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR)
Classroom resources and historical materials related to Indigenous education.

3. Indigenous Canada (University of Alberta – Free Online Course)
A widely used introduction to Indigenous histories and contemporary realities.

4. Indspire Educator Resources
Research, teaching tools, and initiatives supporting Indigenous student success.

5. Provincial FNMI Education Frameworks
Most provinces now provide Indigenous-focused curriculum supports and teacher resources.

Closing Reflection

Conferences like Think Indigenous remind us that Indigenous education is not only about history.

It is about:

• relationships

• listening

• learning from Indigenous voices

• and building classrooms where Indigenous students see their cultures respected and reflected.

Access to these conversations matters.

And thanks to livestreaming, educators can now be part of them from anywhere.