Echoes from the Margins: Voices Reshaping Higher Education
Indigenous and Decolonial Approaches to Curriculum: Learnings from Dr. Candace Brunette-Debassige
Descripción
Dr. Candace Brunette-Debassige is Mushkego Cree of Petabeck First Nation in Treaty 9 with mixed Cree and French lineage. She is a community member, Indigenous scholar, and at the time of release, an Assistant Professor at the School of Indigenous Relations at Laurentian University. We were incredibly fortunate to have Candace as part of our Western University community for over a decade, where she supported the creation of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/] and the development of integral learning opportunities such as the Indigenous Teaching and Learning Series [https://teaching.uwo.ca/teaching/indigenous-tl-resources.html] and the Indigenous Learning Bundles. [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/Learning_Unlearning/learning/indigenous_learning_bundles.html] We had a chance to sit down with Candace to learn more about her journey and experiences across the many roles she has held, alongside her insights on Indigenous and decolonial approaches to education. We know efforts towards decolonization and Indigenization have been a priority area for institutions across Canada, particularly following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report in 2015. But what does it actually look like in practice? How do we take steps towards building genuine, intentional relationships with community to ensure this work is beneficial? How does all of this fit into the Eurocentric westernized model of education many of us are accustomed to? If you find yourself faced with these questions and have a genuine interest to learn, you're in the right place. Tune in to this episode to reflect, unlearn, and reimagine what teaching and learning can look like when Indigenous sovereignty, knowledge, and belonging are truly honoured and prioritized, and how you can meaningfully take part in these processes. We would like to extend a huge thank you and our gratitude to Candace for gifting us this knowledge and for all the ways that she has supported our campus community. Remembering Dr. Lillian McGregor, mentioned in this episode: Dr. Lillian McGregor (1924-2012) of Whitefish River First Nation was the first Elder-in-Residence at the University of Toronto First Nation House, and a strong community leader. Visit Dr. Lillian McGregor Park [https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-recreation/places-spaces/parks-and-recreation-facilities/location/?id=3776], in Toronto, ON. Send Us Feedback: https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8cu1UE1HQsz86vc [https://uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8cu1UE1HQsz86vc] Keywords: Higher Education; EDI-D; Decolonization; Indigenization; Inclusion; Educational Sovereignty; Truth and Reconciliation; Curriculum Development; Learning Bundles; Community-Based Learning; Community Engaged Learning TImestamps (HH:MM:SS) 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast 00:00:53 - Land Acknowledgement 00:04:10 - Guest Introduction 00:05:21 - Welcome Dr. Candace Brunette-Debassige! 00:06:40 - Candace's Time at Western University 00:13:14 - Candace's Path to Higher Education 00:27:01 - The Indigenous Teaching and Learning Series 00:33:52 - The Indigenous Learning Bundles 00:42:59 - Implementing the Bundles in Collaboration with Non-Indigenous Faculty 01:12:24 - Building Relationships with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers 01:18:04 - Mobilizing Decolonization Efforts (e.g., in Meetings, or Committees) 01:25:55 - Challenge(s), and Reward(s) 01:31:30 - If You Had a Magic Wand... 01:35:58 - To Learn More...Check These Out (decolonialfutures.net) 01:40:22 - Poem, "Reconciliation" by Rebeka Tabobondung 01:41:37 - Outro Mentioned in This Episode (Further Reading) 00:00:53 - Land Acknowledgement [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/land_acknowledgement.html] 00:01:26 - Definitions of Decolonization and Indigenization * Western University Office of Research [https://www.uwo.ca/research/support/edida/why-edid.html] * Schulich Office of EDI-D [https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/edid/decolonization/understanding_decolonization.html] * Two Eyed Seeing [https://www.2eyedseeing.ca/about-5] (in the words of Albert Marshall, Mi'kmaq Elder) 00:04:10 - Welcome Candace Brunette-Debassige [https://laurentian.ca/academics/faculty-directory/cbrunette2]! (see her current biography, including her broader publication profile) 00:08:45 - Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Reports and Calls to Action [https://nctr.ca/publications-and-reports/reports/%23highlighted-reports] * Further Reading: Calls to Action for Higher Education [https://peopleforeducation.ca/calls-to-action-for-education/] 00:09:43 - Indigenous Student Centre, Western University [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/students/] 00:10:45 - Strategic Planning and Reports, Indigenous Initiatives [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/stratreports/index.html] 00:11:17 - Candace's PhD Dissertation, "The Trickiness of Settler Colonialism: Indigenous Women Administrators' Experiences of Policy in Canadian Universities [https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/7702/]" * Her learnings and work have also been translated into a book, "Tricky Grounds: Indigenous Women's Experiences in Canadian University Administration" (Link to Purchase, or view Open Access eBook [https://uofrpress.ca/Books/T/Tricky-Grounds]) 00:11:38 - Office of Indigenous Initiatives, Western University [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/] 00:11:53 - Christy Bressette, Vice-Provost & Associate Vice-President (Indigenous Initiatives) [https://www.provost.uwo.ca/leadership/bressette.html] 00:19:08 - University of Toronto Academic Bridging Program [https://wdw.utoronto.ca/academic-bridging] 00:27:01 - Indigenous Teaching and Learning Series [https://teaching.uwo.ca/teaching/indigenous-tl-resources.html] * Additional Learning and Development Opportunities [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/Learning_Unlearning/learning/index.html] at Western 00:27:50 - Center for Teaching and Learning Teaching Fellows [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/Learning_Unlearning/learning/index.html] * Learn more about Candace's appointment [https://www.edu.uwo.ca/news-events/2021/teaching-fellow-indigenous-learning.html] 00:28:06 - (previous news report) Sarah Prichard [https://news.westernu.ca/2019/04/prichard-named-acting-vice-president-research/], Acting Vice-President (Research), also Acting Provost & Vice-President (Academic) 00:29:55 - Aisha Haque [https://teaching.uwo.ca/centre/people/aisha-haque.html], Current Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning 00:30:09 - Indigenous Curriculum and Pedagogy Advisor (previously held by Sara Mai Chitty). Check out the podcast she contributed to our campus community, Mbwaach'idiwag (they visit with each other) [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/Learning_Unlearning/learning/mbwaachidiwag_podcast.html] 00:33:52 - Indigenous Learning Bundles: Maatookiiying gaa-miinigoowiziying (Sharing our Gifts). [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/initiatives/Learning_Unlearning/learning/indigenous_learning_bundles.html] More details on support available when completing the Bundles can be found on this site, including the Community of Practice Candace mentions. 00:35:13 - Indigenous Bundles at Carleton University [https://carleton.ca/tls/teaching-learning-and-pedagogy/collaborative-indigenous-learning-bundles/], stewarded by Dr. Kahente Horn-Miller 00:35:45 - Paula Cornelius-Hedgepeth [https://indigenous.uwo.ca/AboutUs/initiatives/team.html] (Director, Indigenous Engagement and Wampum Learning Lodge) 00:39:19 - Articles on The Bundles * Sharing Indigenous Knowledges in University Teaching: The Need for Conciliable Spaces [https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/cjsotl_rcacea/article/view/18456] (2025 – Collaboration with Kahente Horn-Miller and Sara Mai Chitty) * Bringing indigenous educational leadership perspectives into social work leadership education [https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article/55/8/3976/8261291] (2025 - Collaboration with Rosemary Vito, Social Work Faculty) * At the time of episode release, the third article is still in press, but keep an eye out for its publication! 00:44:44 - Liz Akiwenzie [https://www.centennialcollege.ca/about-centennial/centres-and-institutes/centre-for-faculty-development-and-teaching-innovation/decolonization-and-indigenous-learning/knowledge-keeper-in-residence], Knowledge Keeper 00:50:42 - Bias in Student Evaluations (the importance of thinking critically about where bias may present itself in these mediums, and how we can support faculty accordingly) * Lighting the Fire: Experiences of Indigenous Faculty in Universities (Ontario's Universities) [https://ontariosuniversities.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Lighting-the-Fire-Experiences-of-Indigenous-Faculty-in-Ontario-Universities-December-14-2020.pdf] * Exploring Bias in Student Evaluations: Gender, Race, and Ethnicity [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ps-political-science-and-politics/article/exploring-bias-in-student-evaluations-gender-race-and-ethnicity/91670F6003965C5646680D314CF02FA4] * Student evaluation of teaching: gender bias in a country at the forefront of gender equality [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07294360.2022.2087604] * Evaluating Student Evaluations of Teaching: A Review of Measurement and Equity Bias in SETs and Recommendations for Ethical Reform [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10805-021-09400-w] 00:53:56 - Community Engaged Learning [https://cel.uwo.ca/about/index.html] (Western's Website) 00:58:53 - Leanne Betasamosake Simpson [https://www.leannesimpson.ca/] 01:08:04 - Sheila Cote-Meek [https://brocku.ca/education/sheila-cote-meek/%231708633849272-ebdc07fa-0396]'s Book, "Colonized Classrooms: Racism, Trauma and Resistance in Post-Secondary Education [https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/colonized-classrooms]" 01:27:05 - Thesis-Based Masters in Indigenous Relations (MIR) [https://laurentian.ca/academics/program/indigenous-relations-mir] at Laurentian University 01:33:53 - Master of Indigenous Land-Based Education [https://programs.usask.ca/grad-studies/indigenous-land-based-education/index.php%23top] 01:36:36 - Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures [https://decolonialfutures.net/] (decolonialfutures.net) and Towards Braiding [https://decolonialfutures.net/towardsbraiding/] 01:37:06 - Aiden Cinnamon Tea Project [https://burnoutfromhumans.net/] (burnoutfromhumans.net) 01:40:12 A gift from Candace. Poem, "Reconciliation" by Rebeka Tabobondung [https://www.albertasynod.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Lament-Project-RECONCILIATION-Poem.pdf] (also pasted below): We are waking up to our history from a forced slumber We are breathing it into our lungs so it will be part of us again It will make us angry at first because we will see how much you stole from us and for how long you watched us suffer we will see how you see us and how when we copied your ways we killed our own. We will cry and cry and cry because we can never be the same again But we will go home to cry and we will see ourselves in this huge mess and we will gently whisper the circle back and it will be old and it will be new Then we will breathe our history back to you you will feel how strong and alive it is and you will feel yourself become a part of it And it will shock you at first because it is too big to see all at once and you won't want to believe it you will see how you see us and all the disaster in your ways how much we lost And you will cry and cry and cry because we can never be the same again But we will cry with you and we will see ourselves in this huge mess and we will gently whisper the circle back| and it will be old and it will be new. Audio Recording and Production This episode was recorded on Riverside.fm [http://riverside.fm/], hosted by Schulich Educational Technology and Media Services (ETMS). Produced/Edited by Preetama Badyal and Oana Birceanu Thank you to the support of the team at BrainsCAN [https://brainscan.uwo.ca/index.html] for funding the resources behind this podcast, allowing us to create this space for discussion. Intro and Outro Music Sourced from Pixabay, "Enhance [https://pixabay.com/music/electronic-embrace-364091/]" by electronic music producer Evgeny_Bardyuzha. Free for use under the Pixabay Content License.
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