Aboriginal Perspectives and the Curriculum - Discussion Papers

Introduction

The discussion papers, written by Dwayne Trevor Donald, are intended to stimulate conversation amongst teachers, pre-service teachers, administrators and members of the community about aboriginal perspectives and the social studies curriculum.

The Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium (ERLC) appreciates the perspectives and views shared by the author in addressing the following questions (perspectives represent those views held by the author and do not represent a formal position held by the ERLC):

1. Why are Aboriginal perspectives in the curriculum?
2. Why is it necessary for all teachers and students in Alberta to be required to work with Aboriginal perspectives?
3. What are the hopes, wishes, goals of Aboriginal people and their communities?
4. What notions of curriculum are most helpful in understanding the large curriculum shift occurring in Alberta?

For more information on how to use this resource, please see Guiding the Conversation.

About the Author

Dwayne Trevor Donald was born and raised in Edmonton, on the very land from which his ancestors of the Papaschase Cree were displaced in the 1880s. He left Edmonton to begin his teaching career and taught high school social studies at Kanai High School on the Kainai (Blood) Reserve in southern Alberta for ten years. Currently, he is a full-time doctoral student in Secondary Education at the University of Alberta. His work involves Aboriginal Perspectives and Curriculum.