You just accepted a job offer at the Early Learning Centre in La Loche, Saskatchewan. Many people in this northern Saskatchewan village speak Densuline (Dene), as well as the majority of the people in the adjoining Clearwater River Dene Nation. You are English speaking and you don't know much about the Dene culture. When you arrive in La Loche, you meet the Dene Nation's Chief, Robert Penikett and his preschool aged daughter, Sylvia. Sylvia attends the Centre you'll be working at. Because the majority of people in these communities speak Dene, you'll be expected to integrate this language into your English speaking early learning program. The community's goal and purpose of this program is to preserve their Dene language, and their Indigenous cultural traditions, stories and ways of knowing, while integrating the English language. Many of the communities' families want an education for their children in English, so they are able to continue on in post-secondary institutions in Saskatchewan. You are feeling ill prepared for this overwhelming task, but you know that culturally appropriate curriculum is important for the safety, health and developmental potential of all children. Chief Penikett has assured you that there are eager community members to support you in sharing Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing. You learn there are also Elders that you can invite into the program to share their traditional knowledge and ways of knowing. You are both excited and apprehensive about embarking on this journey of learning. The land in this region is breath-taking. It is full of life and ripe for exploration and learning.  

 

1. Review the first twelve (12) Calls to Action under "Child Welfare."
   1. Identify 1 of the Calls to Action and list (3) three specific actions/strategies that directly address the provision of culturally appropriate curriculum for Indigenous children.  Explain the 3 specific actions an ECE could take to provide culturally appropriate curriculum that directly addresses the Call to Action identified.
   2. Share some initial ideas of how you plan to address this Call to Action given the specific scenario above. Provide 3 specific actions you would take (go beyond asking Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Community Members and Families).
2. Review the strands of the Te whāriki curriculum approach from Learning Outcome 3.
   1. List the five (5) strands of the Te Whāriki curriculum.
   2. Under each strand, outline how you could provide culturally appropriate curriculum to address the La Loche Early Learning Centre's families and community. Provide specific actions you would take.