Indigenous Knowledges

Indigenous Knowledges

Shé:kon! Welcome to CTE’s Indigenous Knowledges page. We support consultations on course and program design as well as pedagogical transformation.

Several of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action address education. CTE’s curricular and individual consultants are committed to working toward Indigenization, decolonization, and reconciliation.

CTE's Educational Developer for Indigenous Knowledges, Madison Hill (Six Nations), along with allied colleagues in CTE and across campus, welcome your engagement in this work. We believe that change is possible and as such seek to advance Indigenous Knowledges in teaching and learning at the University of Waterloo.

There is no single, overarching Indigenous voice. Overall, our principles derive from international ones like UNDRIP and OCAP, while specific approaches and knowledge honour local Nations’ contexts.

In line with the University of Waterloo’s Indigenization Strategic Plan, Kariwahseronnányon: "a very thoroughly made plan" (Mohawk) | Mizinhigan: "a book to reference" (Anishinaabemowin), the goal of the Indigenous Knowledges Team at the Centre for Teaching Excellence is to enrich curriculum and pedagogy through the inclusion of Indigenous Research methodologies and practice, including Indigenous ethics, protocols of genuinely reciprocal community engagement, and Indigenous data sovereignty.  

Whether you are here to prepare the ground for further work, to engage actively, or to sustain existing projects, working with our team begins with building strong relationships. This work is focused on Decolonization and Indigenization of teaching and learning, from small-scale changes to courses, pedagogies, and assessment to program-level curriculum change.

Indigenous knowledges and principles guide us in all our work towards relational transformation. We use these pedagogies when sharing Indigenous Knowledge and believe these are crucial for greater understanding.

We invite you to learn more about the land we are on

Thank you for your willingness to learn more and we look forward to connecting in a good way.

The Dish with One Spoon

The Dish with One Spoon is a treaty agreement between the First Nation Communities within the Great Lakes Region. The concept of a dish with one spoon can also be considered an invitation for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to live together sharing the resources of the land today.

The teachings of the agreement are that the earth is one dish that provides for us all, and that we need to live healthy lives. We have only one spoon to use in sharing all the resources. Therefore, you take only what you need, you always leave something in the dish for others, and you keep the dish clean. It is significant that it is simply a spoon, no knife, symbolizing peace and harmony (Voices from Here, Rick Hill)

Our invitation to you from the IK team is to consider your relationship with this land we find ourselves on and how we interact with the stories and histories from here. We invite you to walk with us down the path of learning through decolonizing & indigenizing our work together on this land.