Authentic CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
Rising Stars Indigenous Education Series is a collection of interactive cultural workshops facilitated by our Indigenous partners and staff. We offer a unique collection of Indigenous awareness & empowerment activities, workshops, and special events, through a engaging framework for student participation and learning. In the process of their active participation, students will develop pride, understanding, and awareness of Indigenous history, cultures, traditions, and achievements.
RECIPROCITY ENVIRONMENT CONNECTIONS RECONCILIATION
What
We Do
- Indigenous Perspectives
- Awareness & Empowerment
- Experiential Workshops
- Cross Curricular Connections
- Elementary/Secondary
- Authentic Facilitators
- Community Connections
- Cross Cultural Experiences
- Land Based Learning
In recognition of The Ministry of Education’s commitment to promote AWARENESS and establish increasing and positive CONNECTIONS with indigenous CULTURES, select schools and boards have partnered with RISING STARS to offer one or more of the following EXPERIENTIAL learning opportunities, while EMPOWERING students with knowledge of indigenous CULTURES, practices and traditions
RISING STARS facilitates EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING opportunities, while EMPOWERING students with knowledge of INDIGENOUS CULTURES, PRACTICES and TRADITIONS
In support of your commitment to promote awareness and establish increasing and positive CONNECTIONS with indigenous CULTURES, we are offering the following;
CREE CULTURES & CONNECTIONS
Dreamcatchers, Drums & the Medicine Wheel James Bay CreeTHE
‘NEW’
CREDIT
Our People, Our Land, Our Journey Mississaugas of the Credit LIFE SKILLS THROUGH INDIGENOUS GAMES
First Nation, Metis, & Inuit Traditions Indigenous CulturesINDIGENOUS ARCHITECTURE
Beyond Buildings – ‘The People of the Longhouse’HaudeneseaneeLACROSSE CULTURES & CONNECTIONS
The Creators Game Native American TraditionsACTIVE
CULTURAL
CONNECTIONS
Physical, Social, Emotional & Spiritual Well-Being (Grades 1-3)Indigenous Worldviews CULTURAL SAFETY AND SPIRITUAL CARE
Indigenous Well-beingOneida PerspectivesBEYOND
THE
ROOTS
Indigenous Art & Recreational TherapyAnishinabee Perspectives Land
Based
Learning
Journey of Discovery – On ReserveMCFN Community Trails 
CREE CULTURES & CONNECTIONS
This interactive workshop will engage students in the cultural art and craft of making dream catchers, while exploring Cree culture and history from the perspective of the daughter of a Residential School Survivor, and an active Band Member from the Cree Nation of Waswanipi. Traditional knowledge is important to the vibrancy of Indigenous cultures. Although to non-indigenous people, making traditional items may seem like a simple production of handicrafts, these traditional activities have complex meanings and cultural significance. According to Eeyou Elders, ‘maamaahtaaukaschihtaau’ is an important concept in the positive continuance of culture and heritage. (Aanischaaukamikw Cree Culture Institute. 2011).
THE ‘NEW’ CREDIT
This interactive workshop will begin by dispelling some common myths and stereotypes about Indigenous people, and introduce students to Anishinaabeemowin, through the personal journey of a 5th generation New Credit band member in his quest for cultural connection and basic language acquisition. Students will be actively engaged in the historical journey of the Mississauga’s 1847 relocation to New Credit through authentic resources that will assist students in their more accurate geographic understanding of local Anishinaabee Nations, while increasing awareness about the process of related treaties and land claims.
LIFE SKILLS THROUGH INDIGENOUS GAMES
Life Skills Through Indigenous Games is a unique workshop designed to raise awareness about indigenous cultures through the promotion of healthy active living, and the creative integration of traditional Indigenous games and activities. Students participate and have fun, while developing physical literacy, and enhancing knowledge & understanding of First Nation, Metis & Inuit cultures.
INDIGENOUS ARCHITECTURE
The workshop begins by taking students on a journey, ‘Beyond Geography’, creatively sharing the geopolitical foundations for the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and demonstrating the significance of the Great Law of Peace (Kaianere’ko:wa). Through a unique series of interactive challenges and activities, students will come to appreciate the spirit of togetherness, understand why the League of Five (Later Six) Nations called themselves the ‘people of the longhouse’, and
LACROSSE CULTURES & CONNECTIONS
This active workshop is designed to raise awareness about the Indigenous origins of the sport of Lacrosse, while exploring the history of this Native American tradition that has become an international sport. Through respectful explorations, and the creative integration of lacrosse skills and drills, students will develop pride, understanding and awareness of Indigenous cultures, traditions, contributions and achievements in and through what was originally called ‘The Creator’s Game’.
ACTIVE CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
The Ontario curriculum states the importance of students connecting to the curriculum; to see themselves in what is taught, how it is taught, and how it applies to the world at large. HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION, 2019. The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1–8 – Revised. With this in mind, this workshop will engage primary students (grades 1-3), in an experiential learning opportunity designed to raise awareness about Indigenous perspectives, through promoting the respectful blending of Indigenous world views with conventional approaches to Physical Education. The primary focus will be in facilitating active participation and fun, while developing foundational movement skills and enhancing knowledge and understanding of First Nation, Metis & Inuit cultures.
CULTURAL SAFETY AND SPIRITUAL CARE
This workshop will effectively introduce students to the Indigenous worldview of socialemotional well-being. Through sharing her personal journey of discovering and embracing her Ojibway and Oneida roots, the facilitator will apply a social work lens, and explore the concepts of spiritual care and cultural safety as the necessary paths to overcoming intergenerational trauma, while building bridges through shared experiences and nurturing connections on the road to well-being.
BEYOND THE ROOTS
This workshop offers an authentic experiential learning opportunity. The facilitator, a certified Indigenous Recreational Therapist and MCFN Band Member, will bring students on a journey of self- discovery, through blending Indigenous world views and conventional learning opportunities, within an Anishinabee framework. This workshop will encourage growth through creatively bridging youth’s connection to self, peers, community, and the environment.
LAND BASED LEARING EXPERIENCE
PART I – MISSISSAUGA OF THE CREDIT FIRST NATION (MCFN)
This land based learning experience and excursion is centered in the teachings of RESPECT, WISDOM, TRUTH, HUMILITY, LOVE, HONESTY and BRAVERY. These teachings, incorporated within the medicine wheel, are also found to exist throughout any Indigenous cultures of the world. With this in mind and heart, a team of MCFN community members will take students on a journey of discovery, on reserve, allowing participants to explore MCFN through sharing of local knowledge keepers, and teachings from authentic resources. Next, under the guidance of a certified Indigenous Recreational Therapist, students will come to understand Indigenous connections to the land, while traversing MCFN’s coveted community nature trails. We believe that this experience will contribute to the establishment of confident foundations which will serve to allow students to be more aware of Indigenous perspectives and cultures, while also encouraging the consideration of the true value of environment through responsible
actions and decisions.
Our primary objective is to provide meaningful workshop opportunities for students to explore contemporary indigenous life, while recognizing the past, increasing knowledge and understanding around the present, and making meaningful connections while looking forward to the future, together, with new found awareness and essential connections.
Dr. Andrew PetersFounding Partner - Rising Stars Group