Students recently participated in a one-day field trip to learn about Aboriginal education, both past and present, from First Nations perspectives. Through stories, teachings, and experiences, students gained insight into the complex history and legacy of federal Aboriginal education policy in Canada.

The day began with a visit to the Woodland Cultural Centre [1] in Brantford, and a virtual tour of the Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School that operated from 1828 to 1970. The school is currently under repair to Save the Evidence of this dark period of Canadian history to support healing and truth and reconciliation. The students also toured the Woodland Museum to learn about the rich history and culture of the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) people.

Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford.  Building under re-construction (left); students looking at exhibit (right)

The trip continued to Six Nations Polytechnic [2], an Aboriginally controlled and operated post-secondary education institute on the Six Nations reserve. There students were offered a glimpse into traditional teachings and the importance of Haudenosaunee languages. The day ended with a visit to the Indigenous Knowledge Centre to explore the vast resources available for continued learning. Students from Rural Planning and Development, Rural Studies, Landscape Architecture, and CSAHS’s Geography program participated in the field trip offered as part of Dr. Sheri Longboat’s (slongboat@uoguelph.ca [3]) Contemporary Aboriginal Issues course.

Students visiting Indigenous Knowledge Centre (left); map of residential schools in Canada (right)

With kind words of thank you for the generous support of the OAC Learning Trust (Richards Trust) and the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development that made this field trip possible.