Decolonizing and Indigenizing Curricula

2019-2022

This grant program was funded by Aboriginal Strategic Initiative (ASI) funds in response to the SFU Aboriginal Reconciliation Council (ARC) report’s Call to Action 18: “Provide targeted funds to build SFU’s capacity to support faculty who wish to Indigenize their courses” (p. 41); and Call to Action 12: “… Wherever the work of indigenization is located, within a centralized unit or within faculties, the work needs to happen in collaboration with Aboriginal experts and communities to ensure that content and perspectives are being incorporated in meaningful ways” (p. 33).

The DI grant program supported the university-wide initiative of decolonizing and indigenizing teaching and learning, while challenging the traditional structure of grant programming. The Centre for Educational Excellence (CEE) and the TILT in collaboration supported DI grant recipients in areas that included, but were not limited to, decolonizing teaching practices; integrating Indigenous ways of knowing into existing curriculum; and developing inclusive and integrative classroom techniques. DI grants were valued at $6,000, and in-kind support was arranged according to the specific needs of each project.

Proposal submission criteria

Proposals were evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Clear description of the project and how it aims to decolonize and/or indigenize your curricula
• Decolonizing teaching practices; integrating Indigenous ways of knowing into existing curriculum and/or teaching practice; and developing inclusive and integrative classroom techniques
• Overall potential impact on the ARC calls to action (e.g., #12)
• Inclusion of long-term goals towards enhancing the student learning experience
• Feasibility of completing the project within three semesters
• Demonstration of how the project will be disseminated and shared
• The DI grant is intended for continuing faculty members