Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story
Traditionally Indigenous culture and knowledge is shared through oral means. This method of communication often takes the form of storytelling, sometimes utilizing metaphor or symbolism, to express community values, news, skills, histories, family record, and to explain the natural world.
Teaching through storytelling
The act of storytelling as a way of passing on information is very often already a part of many school shops and classrooms. Taking the time to share a personal story that is connected to a lesson can help create a real-world connection for students. As many teachers, and certainly students, are aware, an exciting story can turn a dull lesson into something fun and exciting. It can open student’s imaginations and get them engaged with the lesson in a way they may have not done otherwise.
Student connection through storytelling
Offering students an opportunity to share their stories fosters a potentially greater connection to their work/learning as well as to their peers. By openly encouraging students to share their thoughts and connections to the lesson, educators do all within the classroom a service in fostering classroom community.
Learning/talking circles
One method that can be employed by educators is the learning circle. A learning circle can take many forms. One simple form is to have students sit in a circle and take the time to discuss a topic as a group related to the learning. For example, if the class will be learning wood carving, having a learning circle with a focus on patience and mindfulness could be beneficial. Wood carving is best done when the mind is on the task at hand and not rushed. This learning circle example allows students to share stories of failures and successes in patience/mindfulness and perhaps learn from each other the importance of said topics. Learning circles do require class buy in and may require teacher motivated questions and prompts to get things started. They can take as long as they need to and sometimes might end on a completely different subject than what was initially started with. This is not necessarily a bad thing depending on the direction students take the discussion.
Elders and stories
Elders and Knowledge Keepers may share stories with students if invited into the classroom/shop. It should be noted that not all stories are to be repeated outside the context of the moment or to be retold by student or teacher without the Elder’s permission. Further, many Indigenous stories do not come with a ready presentable moral like many Western fables do. It may be up the students/teacher to reflect on the story and reach their own conclusions of its meaning.