Engaging with Indigenous Curriculum
Equipping BC Educators for Decolonizing Pedagogy
This institute is designed to support BC educators with the Indigenous-focused graduation requirement course introduced in the 2023-2024 academic year and with decolonizing and Indigenizing their teaching practices.
There is cause for optimism and excitement based on the new graduate requirement. Robust support is essential for teachers leading these courses to ensure confidence in content and pedagogy. While there are a diversity of courses being offered, there are common threads and concepts that are imperative to lead Indigenous education in secondary education. The aim of the spring institute is to support teachers in building on their learning to gain expertise in these areas.
The in-person institute will emphasize a growth of knowledge of Indigenous histories, decolonization, Indigenous Knowledges, and anti-oppression. Led by renowned Indigenous scholar and educator, Dr. Dustin Louie, participants will be supported in positioning themselves in relation to the work, while expanding and shifting their thinking on what is possible for an Indigenous graduate requirement course.
We view all teachers as having a place in leading these courses, but the imperative first step is recognizing our positionality and how it directs us in our teaching. There will be a focus on how to regionalize your curriculum to represent your community’s Indigenous Knowledges and cultures, while also considering localized experiences of colonization to ensure the design is responsive and avoids pan-Indigenous approaches.
Quick Info
Dates: March 19–21, 2025 | 9:00 am–3:00 pm
Length: 3 days
Location: UBC Vancouver
Credentials: Non-Credit
Cost: $1,200
Deadline: March 3, 2025
Institute Details
Instructor
Dr. Dustin Louie
Dr. Dustin Louie is a First Nations scholar from Nee Tahi Buhn and Nadleh Whut’en of the Dakelh Nation of central British Columbia. He is a member of the Beaver Clan. Dustin’s education background includes a degree in Canadian history, a master’s degree in international relations, and a PhD in educational research. The topic of Dr. Louie’s doctoral dissertation was Sexual Exploitation Prevention Education for Indigenous Girls. He has worked as an historian in a land claims law firm, studied Indigenous homelessness in Western Canada, worked internationally for non-governmental organizations in Uganda and Australia, and began his academic career as an Assistant Professor and then Associate Professor at the Werklund School of Education in the University of Calgary.
Dr. Louie is also the Director of NITEP and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia. He teaches courses related to Indigenous education, social justice, and educational philosophy; works closely with four school districts on decolonizing at the provincial and local level with government and private organizations, researches practical approaches to Indigenizing education, decolonizing education, Indigenous pedagogies, and critical theory. Dr. Louie has published in the top educational journals in Canada on diverse topics in Indigenous education.
Location & Format
Spring 2025
The Institute will take place in person at UBC Vancouver from March 19–21, 2025, from 9am to 3pm daily (exact times to be confirmed). Additional details about the classroom location and program schedule will be shared soon.
If you are travelling from outside of the Lower Mainland, you may wish to consider accommodation options available on the UBC Vancouver campus.
Please note that a minimum number of participants is required to run the institute. Confirmation of whether the institute will proceed will be provided in early 2025.
Registration
Cost
The program fee is $1,200 + GST.
Discounts may be available for group registrations. Please contact Peyvand Fralick at peyvand.fralick@ubc.ca for more details.
Secure Payment
Payment is made through the secure UBC online payment gateway via credit card or accepted Interac cards (BMO, RBC, ScotiaBank, TD CanadaTrust). Please note, we are unable to accept Visa Debit cards.
If your school district is financially supporting your participation, we can also invoice them directly. Please contact us if this is the case.
The deadline to register is March 3, 2025