Land and Community as Host: Reflections on Cultural Exchange Between Inuit and Urban Students

Presented by Maclane Cardinal and Jacqui Kroeker

In this presentation, Maclane and Jacqui will reflect on the power, significance, and pedagogical impact that ocurred when they participated in a cultural exchange with their Urban Winnipeg students, and a group of students from Gjoa Haven, Nunavut. This will be situated within the context of reconciliation amongst youth and land-as-teacher as a means to do this important work.

In particular, Maclane will explain his course, Canada’s first ever Advanced Placement Land-Based Learning course as the context from which this project grew. Course objectives and lead-up activities will be shared as a way to highlight the necessity for the exchange.

Jacqui will provide a school-leader perspective where obstacles, resource allocation, and community justification and support will be provided. Photos of our exchange in Winnipeg as well as our trip north to Gjoa Haven will be shared, as well as professional observations, implications, and recommendations for those who are seeking to make authentic reconciliation a part of their professional practice. We will be sharing photos, Experiences Canada details (they are the primary funder). This will be done via Slide Deck which will be prepared closer to the presentation date.