Sustainability, Global Education and an Aboriginal Perspective

This project involves creating learning partnerships and connections to tie together issues of Sustainability, Global Education and an Aboriginal Perspective. This project goes hand-in-hand with the building and continuing site development of our new permanent outdoor “Medicine Wheel Teaching Garden”. This structure provides a stage and platform for inquiry, reflection and student action. The seating, pathways and planting beds were installed during the summer of 2010. Seven sitting stones are arranged in each of the 4 directions. Our challenge is now to connect the frameworks for sustainable living with the medicine wheel framework, and weave those perspectives throughout the school culture and curricula.

Our consultations will result in understanding, growth and sharing amongst staff and students through examination and shared development of this wiki: http://waec-teachers.wikispaces.com/4.+Sustainability+in+Education%2C+Comparative+Studies+and+an+Aboriginal+Perspective .

Update (November 29, 2010)

Students initiated activities around the Medicine Wheel Teaching Garden on November 24, 2010 in support of The Celebration of Giving through the Turtle Lodge. Dave Courchene Jr. invited participants from around the world to give up food and water for at least 24 hours and consider donating the money they would have spent on food that day. Benefits and cross-cultural practices of fasting were explained and celebrated.

Update (May 12, 2011)

May 12, 2011

The students on the teaching garden advisory committee have met with an elder, Dave Courchene, to plan activities for our family picnic and opening ceremonies on October 5, 2011.

They have started composting vegetable waste from the resource room and student lounge in an effort to connect themes of sustainability to Aboriginal perspectives.

Students have begun growing sage seeds to plant in the garden, and for students and children to transplant into pots to take home at the family picnic.

Plans for inviting family members to drum at our family picnic were also decided upon at the student meeting.

Everyone was welcome for elder teachings at the Teaching Garden on May 9, 2011.

Students will take pictures at the family picnic to share in the final Imagine action report.

Update (June 20, 2011)

On June 17, 2011 student volunteers organized and led 2 significant events as part of our annual Family Picnic. These events were meant to publicize and spread awareness of the purpose and plans for our Medicine Wheel Teaching Garden. One student invited his cousin and the Spirit Sands Singers to perform at the site of our upcoming garden. Other students organized and ran the " Parent and Child Pot a Plant". Sage seedlings were transplanted into pots for children to take home and continue to grow. Care and feeding of the plant was discussed as well as the importance to eat locally grown food.