Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspectives in the Classroom

Aboriginal Education in Action:
The Kwakiutl Sacred Geography Learning Project
This is an example of how some of the characteristics of Aboriginal worldviews and perspectives (together
with attributes of responsive schooling) might translate into teaching and learning at the school level — as
outlined by participants at the regional session held in Tsaxis, SD 85 (Vancouver Island North).
Connections
This multi-age, whole-school project involved hands-on
experiential learning through art, story, and geography. It
likewise constituted place-based education — providing
opportunities for connection with the land, nature, and the
outdoors as well as constructive engagement with the local First
Nations community.
Background/Context
According to tradition, the original ancestors of the Kwakiutl were
supernatural beings. In the beginning times they possessed an
ability to transform between their natural state and human form.
The original names of these ancestors are known as the “myth
names.” These were passed down through time and came to refer to
both the original ancestors and their descendants. They are still used
by the Kwakiutl Chiefs today.
The places where these beings came down from the sky, out
from the deep forests, or ashore from the undersea kingdom and
took human form for the first time mark the genesis of each of
the Kwakiutl ‘namima or tribes/clans (‘namima literally means,
“those of one kind”). These creation places form part of the sacred
geography of the Kwakiutl People, and the “myth names” attest to
both an ancient relationship with the land and a close connection
to place of origin.
Over time, many significant events occurred. The ancestors
confronted other supernatural beings, performed feats of great
strength, encountered ancestral spirits, or clashed with the
shaman of other peoples. These events were recorded in the great
oral tradition of the Kwakiutl and retold at Potlatch ceremonies
through the use of masks, songs, and dances. Because these
important events occurred in real geographic space, they too form
part of the sacred geography of the Kwakiutl.
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Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspectives in the Classroom: Moving Forward