Advisory Council
In revising this textbook to focus more centrally on the relation between education and Indigenous People, a group of four Indigenous student-scholars provided feedback on what to include, what to omit, and how to present information in a way that engaged students and inspired them to learn even more. The three members of the Advisory Council include Jeremie Caribou, Savannah Louis, and Justen Peters. Their biographies follow.
Jeremie Caribou
Since coming back to school in 2017, I have worked in a number of departments at Ryerson University. First as Research Assistant for the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies. For FMD in the Project Management Office as a Special Projects Intern. Recently, In the Office of Social Innovation as a Social Innovation Specialist. Currently, I work in the library as the Indigenous Initiatives Liaison Lead. My work includes advancing Indigenous ways of knowing and perspectives; researching and developing Indigenous placemaking principles; Indigenous land-based educational walking tours and presentations. My research involved attending cultural camps and presentations; listening to my teachers (knowledge keepers, elders, land stewards); attending workshops, lectures and panels; plus, compiling information from various perspectives from journal articles, books, websites, news articles and community such as Yvonne Thomas, Brian Charles, and Alan Corbiere.
Regarding Indigenous ways of knowing and being (placemaking, values, identity, tradition, pride of place, a sense of place and a place of sense), through research, I have come to understand Masks, Totem Poles, Blankets (now star blankets), Rock Art, and Wampum Belts have historical, sociocultural, and political significance. Additionally, the dynamic tools of cultural evolution display unique inscribed memory markers which assists individuals in understanding the significance of each instrument. For instance, the Haudenosaunee, Anishnaabek and various nations used wampum belts, varying in size for diplomacy with Europeans and other First Nations such as the Two Row (Guswenta) Wampum Belt. As we are aware, the Two Row represents two vessels (nations) travelling down the river of life together and autonomous to one another on the three principles of – depending on who you speak with – peace, friendship and respect; peace, friendship and forever; peace, power and righteousness; righteousness (Gaiwah), health (Skénon) and power (Gashashénshaa); or peace, power and the good mind. And in the words of Bob Antone, “this is what the Two-Row teaches us…” to be “…relationship consciousness.”
Savannah Louis
Wai’ my name is Savannah Louis. This is my second publication. I am authored in the Gatherings Water Anthology (2016) book. I am a member of the Okanagan Indian Band located in Vernon, BC. I am currently pursuing the bachelor of Nsyilxcen Language Fluency Degree. I am very grateful to be apart of this amazing Advisory Council and to be co-authored in this textbook. It truly has been a joy working with everyone on this textbook. I really hope that students enjoy this textbook as much as I enjoyed working on this. My hope is for students to get as much learning about Indigenous culture and life. I have never seen so much Indigenous content in a textbook (other than in an Indigenous Studies course readings). I hope that other departments within the University create something like this. I would like to thank Jacqui Gingras for inviting me to take part in this textbook. It has been a pleasure to be apart of this amazing journey!
