# data[].attributes.headline
How will I Decolonize- Indigenized in the Classroom by Monique Francis

# data[].attributes.subject
How will I Decolonize- Indigenized in the Classroom by Monique Francis

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Aboriginal art is signature in style, and children will have fun emulating the dot patterns seen in a lot of this incredible ancient art. Usually painted in earthy tones (red, yellows, blacks and whites) and in the shape of Australian animals like snakes and lizards, kids will love to have a go.
Check out this great website to teach your kids about Aboriginal art before you pull those painting smocks on!
Some Dot-Painting Tips

You can use a big piece of white cardboard, white paper or a plain canvas. For a really authentic looking dot painting, use a brown piece of paper that has been scrunched and un-scrunched to make it look like tree bark!

Kids can use a little sponge (a cut up kitchen sponge or ideally a makeup sponge) to get the desired textured background effect of swirling colours, circles or patterns- or the body of a snake or lizard if they're extra artistic. Reds, browns yellows and oranges are great if you want your dot painting to look traditional, but kids might prefer some brighter colours like pinks, purples and greens. Cover the whole canvas!

Let the background dry before going in with the dots or the colour will run.

For dots (black or white are most commonly used) use a cotton bud, your little one's fingertips, or the stick end of a paint brush. The dots will give an awesome 3-dimensional effect to the artwork as they will be slightly raised.

Use a black marker to trace thickly around any significant shapes (natural landmarks, animals) as this will help them stand out, and is what is seen in many traditional works.

More Craft Ideas Here

Easy Paper Crafts
Best Christmas Crafts
Best Craft Classes For Kids

Hero image: 1Canoe2Blog

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Art For Kids: Aboriginal-Inspired Dot Painting

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Aboriginal art is signature in style, and children will have fun emulating the dot patterns seen in a lot of this incredible ancient art. Usually painted in earthy tones (red, yellows, blacks and whites) and in the shape of Australian animals like snakes and lizards, kids will love to have a go.

# data[].attributes.body
Through this padlet, I want to make sure my information is clear. I want people to feel welcomed into my classroom when reading this. I want you to feel like you imagine like you are apart of my classroom and community!

# data[].attributes.body
Starting off with my policy statement. This will be for a classroom of a mix of Indigenous and non Indigenous children. Having different backgrounds of the children will help everyone learn more.

The statement is: Students of all races, ethnicities, genders, religions and disabilities are to be respected and acknowledged.

This classroom is to be a safe welcoming classroom for all students and families. 63. We call upon the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada to maintain an annual commitment to Aboriginal education issues, including:  Building student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect (Government of Canada, 2021).

# data[].attributes.body
My policy meets this call of action because it states that respect is needed in the classroom. Respect to the students, the teachers and most importantly the culture. It also shows that everyone will not only understand each other no matter who they are, but also be respectful.

We also want to note that the land belongs to the Indigenous group and has been here for centuries. We want to respect as much as we can but still talk and educate the children and others about it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Aboriginal Australians, also referred to as Aborigines, are people whose ancestors were indigenous to the Australian continent-that is, to mainland Australia or to the island of Tasmania. Traditional aboriginal art includes painting on natural items such as leaves, bark, and wood; using sand to "paint;" carving wood (shields, spears, boomerangs), rocks, emu egg, or shells; basket weaving; jewellery making.

In the 1970's, artists in Australia's Northern Territory- aboriginal people who lived in the Central and Western Desert- created various paintings that experimented with color and style and set out to tell their " dreaming stories linked to land, history and culture" ( dreamtime is often used to refer to someone's spiritual beliefs). The style came from the artists' knowledge of ceremonial and traditional body and sand painting, and the symbols might include circles, journey lines and bird and animal tracks, all with many meanings.

My children and I viewed many examples of these paintings from Papunya and talked about how they made us feel, what they made us think of, and the colors and styles used. The kids noticed the used of circles, geometric shapes, sometimes animals, and the use of symmetric and asymmetric shapes. Also we looked at the gallery of work at Papunya Tula Artists.

Origins of Western Desert Art: Tjukurrtjanu, an exhibit at the National Gallery of Victoria, demonstrates "200 of the first paintings produced at Papunya between 1971 and 1972 and also establishes the vital connection between the works of art and their sources in ephemeral designs made for use in ceremony." Adults can read more about the Papunya Tula art movement of the Western Desert here. For those living in or visiting Australia, the National Museum of Australia (in Canberra) has an exhibit on Papunya Painting which display art pieces and also explores the lives, spiritual and secular beliefs, world views, and aspirations of the artists.

We also watched aboriginal artist Gracie Ward Napaltjarri, create a stunning masterpiece:

Finally, inspired by the art we learned about, the kids explored dot painting on their own. I put out q-tips, paint, and construction paper, and let them use their imaginations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Australian Indigenous Art: Aboriginal Dot Painting

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Aboriginal Australians, also referred to as Aborigines, are people whose ancestors were indigenous to the Australian continent-that is, to mainland Australia or to the island of Tasmania. Traditional aboriginal art includes painting on natural items such as leaves, bark, and wood; using sand to "paint;" carving wood (shields, spears, boomerangs), rocks, emu egg, or shells; basket weaving; jewellery making.

# data[].attributes.body
This fits into the Call of Action 63. It states: “63. We call upon the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada to maintain an annual commitment to Aboriginal education issues, including: Sharing information and best practices on teaching curriculum related to residential schools and Aboriginal history” (Government of Canada, 2021).

This fits into the Call of Action because in the lesson we will be learning about Aboriginal history. This will show that we are trying to educate the students on different topics in Aboriginal issues and more.

# data[].attributes.body
Decolonized- Indigenized the classroom will be inside and out. Inside there will be artwork the students have done, different traditional Indigenous pieces and paintings. For example, different symbols and just a lot of artwork in general. Outside we can display some of the student’s artwork in the window. Professional paintings or pictures will be displayed as well.

# data[].attributes.body
The activity I choose is going to be an art activity. Each student is going to make their own medicine wheel based on one they choose. They will have learned about each medicine wheel and what it is.

They will make their own by choosing a colour and name. The one they make will be based on a medicine wheel of choice. They will then talk about the one that inspired them.

The teacher is involved by teaching the lesson prior to the activity. The teacher will also have made their own example of a medicine wheel and explain it to the class.

# data[].attributes.body
With this activity, it will help decolonize Indigenize in the classroom because it will educate the children on Indigenous culture. It will help them understand what was learned previously, then they will create their own to better understand medicine wheels.

When I was school there was not a lot of artwork or just talk about Indigenous culture as we wanted. The only time it was talked about was in english class in high school. Which was very educational for sure and I learned a lot. But for younger children it needs to be interesting.

Since children get bored easily, they will need something to occupy them. They need activities, artwork, books, games etc. My classroom will do that.

# data[].attributes.body
Not only will I have lessons about Indigenous culture every 2 weeks, I will also try and reach out to any Indigenous speakers to come and speak to the children. Finding people in the community will help feel like home.

Another thing to do is introducing a new word in First Nations, Metis or Inuit language (Wong, 2019). This will make the children be involved daily while also teaching them something educational. This will help them learn faster and it will be effective as well.

# data[].attributes.body
It will help with the Indigenous Worldwide of Education because it is being taught in the classroom. Each child's voice will be heard when talking about each topic (Toulouse , 2016). I will make sure the topic being taught are respected by the children, myself and the staff.

# data[].attributes.body
Calls to action - province of British Columbia. Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (2015). Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/indigenous-people/aboriginal-peoples-documents/calls_to_action_english2.pdf.

Government of Canada. (2021, June 11). Education for reconciliation. Government of Canada; Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Retrieved November 21, 2021, from https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1524504501233/1557513602139.

Toulouse , P. R. (2016, March). What matters in indigenous education? - people for education. People for Education . Retrieved November 21, 2021, from https://peopleforeducation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/MWM-What-Matters-in-Indigenous-Education.pdf.

Wong, J. (2019, May 28). Ideas and insights: A discussion on decolonizing and indigenizing classrooms, schools and systems. Facing Canada - A Facing History Blog. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://facingcanada.facinghistory.org/discussion-on-decolonizing-and-indigenizing.