Active Curriculum

Indigenous Knowledge &
Reconciliation

Promote reconciliation, cultural safety, and Indigenous knowledge.

Learner
Syllabus Overview

Structured learning journey.

1
44 Mins

Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Module 1: Indigenous Peoples in Canada introduces the three main Indigenous groups in Canada—First Nations, Inuit, and Métis—along with key concepts such as demographics, traditional territories, Treaty lands, and respectful language.

Key Terminology

1Indigenous Peoples: The original inhabitants of the lands now known as Canada, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
2First Nations: Indigenous peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis, consisting of many distinct Nations, cultures, and communities.
3Inuit: Indigenous peoples of the Arctic regions of Canada, with distinct culture, language, and traditions connected to Inuit Nunangat.
4Métis: A distinct Indigenous people in Canada with unique culture, history, and identity that emerged during the fur trade era.
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2
43 Mins

Colonial History & Impacts

Module 2: Colonial History & Impacts explores Indigenous societies before contact and the effects of European colonization, including settlement, the reserve system, the Indian Act, and the pass system. It examines how these policies disrupted Indigenous governance, land relationships, and cultures, and how their impacts continue today.

Key Terminology

1Colonization: The process by which one group takes control over the land, resources, and governance of another, often imposing foreign systems and laws.
2Pre-Contact Societies: Indigenous Nations and communities in North America before European arrival, characterized by diverse and complex governance, trade, and cultural systems.
3Governance Systems: The political and decision-making structures used by Indigenous Nations to organize leadership, law, and community responsibilities.
4Reserve System: A system of land set aside by the Canadian government for First Nations, typically much smaller than traditional territories and controlled by the federal government.
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3
44 Mins

Residential Schools & Intergenerational Trauma

Module 3: Residential Schools & Intergenerational Trauma explores the history and impacts of residential schools in Canada, including cultural suppression and assimilation, and how these effects continue through intergenerational trauma. It also introduces the TRC and the 94 Calls to Action as part of ongoing reconciliation and healing.

Key Terminology

1Residential Schools: Government-funded, church-run institutions that operated in Canada for over a century, designed to assimilate Indigenous children by separating them from their families, languages, and cultures.
2Assimilation: The process of forcing a group to adopt the language, culture, and identity of another dominant group, often by removing their own cultural practices and systems.
3Survivor: A person who attended residential schools and lived through the experience, often carrying both personal and community impacts from that system.
4Intergenerational Trauma: The transmission of trauma and its effects from one generation to the next, often through disrupted families, loss of culture, and historical harm.
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4
45 Mins

Truth & Reconciliation

Module 4: Truth & Reconciliation introduces the TRC, its findings, and the 94 Calls to Action, while explaining the meaning of reconciliation and shared responsibilities in addressing residential school legacies. It also highlights progress and the importance of accountability in ongoing reconciliation efforts.

Key Terminology

1Truth: The honest recognition and understanding of historical events and their impacts, particularly regarding residential schools and Indigenous experiences in Canada.
2Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC): A commission established in 2008 to document the history and impacts of residential schools and to promote awareness, truth-telling, and reconciliation.
3Residential Schools: Government-funded, church-run institutions that aimed to assimilate Indigenous children by removing them from their families, cultures, and languages.
4Survivor: An Indigenous person who attended and lived through the residential school system, often carrying lasting personal and intergenerational impacts.
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5
45 Mins

Indigenous Rights & Treaties

Module 5: Indigenous Rights & Treaties introduces Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, the role of historical and modern treaties, and the recognition of Métis rights in Canada. It explains how these frameworks define Indigenous-Crown relationships and continue to shape law and governance today.

Key Terminology

1Section 35: A section of the Constitution Act, 1982 that recognizes and affirms existing Aboriginal and treaty rights in Canada and provides constitutional protection for Indigenous rights.
2Indigenous Rights: Inherent rights of Indigenous peoples as the original inhabitants of the land, including rights related to land, culture, language, governance, and self-determination.
3Treaties: Formal nation-to-nation agreements between Indigenous Nations and the Crown that define land sharing, responsibilities, and relationships.
4Treaty Rights: Specific rights outlined in treaties, such as hunting, fishing, land use, education, and cultural protections.
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6
42 Mins

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

Module 6: UNDRIP introduces the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, focusing on key principles like self-determination, cultural rights, and FPIC. It also examines how Canada and British Columbia are implementing UNDRIP into law and policy.

Key Terminology

1UNDRIP: The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, an international framework that sets minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and rights of Indigenous peoples globally.
2Self-Determination: The right of Indigenous peoples to freely determine their political status and pursue their economic, social, and cultural development.
3FPIC (Free, Prior, and Informed Consent): A principle requiring Indigenous peoples to be fully informed and to voluntarily agree or refuse decisions affecting their lands, rights, or resources.
4Cultural Rights: Rights that protect Indigenous languages, traditions, spiritual practices, and cultural identities.
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7
41 Mins

Cultural Safety & Humility

Module 7: Cultural Safety & Humility introduces the difference between cultural competency and cultural safety, and emphasizes cultural humility as ongoing self-reflection. It focuses on recognizing bias and stereotypes and building respectful, inclusive environments.

Key Terminology

1Cultural Competency: The ability to understand and interact respectfully with people from different cultures through knowledge and skills.
2Cultural Safety: An environment where individuals feel respected and safe, defined by their own experience rather than the provider’s intention.
3Cultural Humility: An ongoing process of self-reflection, learning, and openness to recognizing and addressing personal bias and limitations.
4Culture: The shared beliefs, values, languages, traditions, and ways of life of a group of people.
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8
43 Mins

Indigenous Worldviews & Knowledge Systems

Module 8: Indigenous Worldviews & Knowledge Systems introduces holistic and interconnected ways of understanding knowledge, focusing on relationships with land, oral traditions, and teachings like the Medicine Wheel. It highlights how these perspectives can support more balanced and sustainable decision-making in technical roles.

Key Terminology

1Holistic Thinking: An approach that sees all elements of life—people, land, environment, and systems—as interconnected and interdependent.
2Worldview: The set of beliefs, values, and perspectives that shape how individuals or cultures understand the world.
3Land Relationship: The understanding that land is a living, relational entity that requires respect, care, and responsibility rather than ownership.
4Stewardship: The responsibility of humans to care for and protect the land, environment, and resources for future generations.
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9
42 Mins

Indigenous Languages

Module 9: Indigenous Languages introduces the diversity and importance of Indigenous languages in Canada, along with the impacts of language loss and ongoing revitalization efforts. It also highlights language rights, education, and how language preservation supports culture, identity, and community strength.

Key Terminology

1Language: A system of communication that carries culture, identity, knowledge, and worldview.
2Language Families: Groupings of related Indigenous languages, such as Algonquian, Iroquoian, and Inuit language families.
3Language Diversity: The existence of many distinct Indigenous languages and dialects across different Nations and regions.
4Language Loss: The decline or disappearance of fluent speakers due to disrupted transmission and historical impacts.
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10
43 Mins

Indigenous Governance & Self-Determination

Module 10: Indigenous Governance & Self-Determination introduces Indigenous systems of leadership and decision-making, including traditional governance, band councils, and self-government agreements. It highlights self-determination and the importance of Indigenous-led governance in shaping community futures.

Key Terminology

1Governance: Systems and structures used to make decisions, exercise authority, and organize communities.
2Traditional Governance: Indigenous leadership systems rooted in culture, land, and community responsibilities prior to colonization.
3Band Council: An elected governing body established under the Indian Act that manages local First Nations administration.
4Chief and Councillors: Elected leaders within a band council responsible for governance and decision-making.
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11
43 Mins

Land & Resource Rights

Module 11: Land & Resource Rights examines Indigenous rights to land and resources, including Aboriginal title, consultation requirements, environmental impacts, and the Land Back movement. It highlights the importance of respectful engagement and recognizing Indigenous authority in land-related decisions.

Key Terminology

1Aboriginal Rights: Rights recognized under Section 35 that protect Indigenous practices, traditions, and customs linked to culture and land.
2Aboriginal Title: The inherent Indigenous right to land itself, including control, use, and benefit of the land.
3Section 35: A section of the Constitution Act, 1982 that recognizes and affirms existing Indigenous rights in Canada.
4Duty to Consult: The legal obligation of governments to engage Indigenous Nations when decisions may affect their rights or title.
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12
44 Mins

Allyship & Advocacy

Module 12: Allyship & Advocacy focuses on how to move from understanding Indigenous rights to taking meaningful action. It covers effective allyship, amplifying Indigenous voices, addressing racism, and supporting Indigenous-led organizations through accountability and respect.

Key Terminology

1Allyship: Active, ongoing support of Indigenous Peoples and their rights through accountable actions rather than identity alone.
2Advocacy: Actions aimed at creating change in systems, policies, or behaviours to support equity and justice.
3Cultural Humility: A mindset of lifelong learning, self-reflection, and openness when engaging with Indigenous Peoples and knowledge.
4Accountability: Taking responsibility for one’s actions, accepting feedback, and making changes when harm or mistakes occur.
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13
44 Mins

Indigenous Peoples in the Workplace

Module 13: Indigenous Peoples in the Workplace explores how organizations can support equity through fair hiring, inclusive workplaces, Indigenous procurement, and stronger representation and retention of Indigenous employees.

Key Terminology

1Employment Equity: Fair access to employment opportunities through the removal of systemic barriers.
2Representation: The meaningful presence and participation of Indigenous Peoples at all levels of an organization.
3Recruitment: The process of attracting and hiring employees into an organization.
4Retention: Strategies and conditions that support employees staying and growing within an organization.
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14
45 Mins

Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls (MMIWG)

Module 14: Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls (MMIWG) explores the scope of the crisis in Canada, the National Inquiry findings, and the systemic causes behind it, while highlighting ways to support survivors, families, and Calls for Justice.

Key Terminology

1MMIWG: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, a term referring to the disproportionate violence and disappearances affecting Indigenous women and girls in Canada.
2National Inquiry: A federal investigation that examined the MMIWG crisis and produced findings and Calls for Justice.
3Calls for Justice: Mandatory directives from the National Inquiry aimed at addressing systemic causes of violence and inequality.
4Systemic Issue: A problem embedded within institutions and systems rather than caused by isolated individual actions.
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15
41 Mins

Moving Forward Together

Module 15: Moving Forward Together focuses on turning reconciliation into action through personal responsibility, organizational commitments, support for Indigenous communities, and ongoing learning.

Key Terminology

1Reconciliation: An ongoing process of building respectful relationships and addressing the impacts of colonialism through action, accountability, and learning.
2Accountability: Taking responsibility for actions and ensuring commitments lead to real, measurable change.
3Personal Action Plan: A set of individual steps that translate learning about reconciliation into everyday behaviours and commitments.
4Lifelong Learning: Continuous education and reflection that extends beyond formal training or coursework.
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Professional Certification

Complete 15 modules to unlock your verified certificate.