The worldviews, lifeways, foodways, voices, knowledge and teachings of Indigenous Peoples hold significant value. It is vitally important for educators to learn about, and from the many Indigenous Nations who have stewarded the land that we teach upon, work upon, eat and play upon, since time immemorial. When settler educators intend to invite Indigenous elders, and knowledge keepers to share teachings, we must first do the work to understand appropriate protocols (different across Nations), to consider our intentions carefully, and to take the time to reflect upon what it means to imbue our invitations with honest, clear and good intentions.
We need to ensure we’re creating paid work for Indigenous knowledge keepers and Indigenous educators and recognize the importance of this work to the process of decolonizing our teaching approaches and practices.
We are all treaty people and Ontario educators have responsibilities to learn from the 46 Indigenous treaties and agreements in Ontario which teach us our responsibilities to care for, and share the environment. These treaties offer wisdom and pathways for how to work towards regenerative reciprocity with nature, and Right Relations with Indigenous Peoples. These values can guide our EE practices and be passed onto future generations.
A commitment to equity in education, and belief the outdoors should be equitable and accessible for all.
The importance of the ongoing development of critical awareness in EE that is attuned to the complex of issues that have historically made the outdoors inequitable.
The importance of collaboration, capacity building and relationship building with individuals, collectives and organizations that represent and offer a diversity of perspectives and voices in environmental education, and again, a commitment to considering our intentions, and creating paid work when inviting folks to share knowledge.
A belief that environmental education has relevance across all subjects, age cohorts, learning needs, and teaching styles.
A belief in arming younger generations with the knowledge and passion to become environmental stewards.
A commitment to create opportunities for all educators and learners to discover their own sparks of connection with nature and their environmental ethics.