Learning With Mi'kma'ki

This 6-hour professional learning experience invites early childhood educators to deepen their relationship with place through Mi’kmaw-first voice teachings. Grounded in the principle of Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing), participants will explore how Indigenous and Western knowledge systems can work together to support early learning and child care.

Through storytelling, reflection, and hands-on activities, educators will explore Mi’kmaw ways of knowing and being, including Netukulimk, land-based learning, and the interconnectedness of all living things. The session includes both indoor and outdoor components, encouraging participants to observe, memorize, and compare their surroundings as part of a traditional Mi’kmaw methodology.

• Participants will:

   

  • Explore Mi’kma’ki, its districts, and the significance of Land Acknowledgments.
  • Learn about Mi’kmaw identity, community, and the principle of Netukulimk.
  • Reflect on the autonomy of self and child, and how this informs early learning.
  • Examine the differences between outdoor education, outdoor learning, and land-based learning.
    Engage in outdoor activities that foster connection to land, water, animals, and plants.
  • Apply Two-Eyed Seeing to their practice, integrating Indigenous and Western perspectives.

Note: Please come prepared to spend at least 3 hours outdoors. Dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear. Bring a water bottle, writing materials, and a spirit of curiosity.