Southern Michif (Métis) Introductory Language Course

Mondays, Jan 6, 13, 20, 27, Feb 3, 10 – 6pm Pacific Time / 7pm Eastern Time – Zoom

Southern Michif is a traditional language of the Métis people. It is also known as Michif, Michif Cree, Heritage Michif, aan Cree, and aañ Crii. Its origins are in the Red River Valley area in Manitoba, Canada and this language is now applicable across the southern parts of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Southeast British Columbia, and Southwest Ontario, and the northern parts of North Dakota and Montana.

Participants will have the opportunity to delve into the rich Métis heritage and acquire fundamental Michif language skills. Led by a traditional Michif speaker Marie Schoenthal, this workshop promises an immersive experience that celebrates and preserves Métis culture.

Understanding and honouring Indigenous languages is foundational to connecting with the local Land, and taking steps towards Truth and Reconciliation. If you are a non-Indigenous language learner, please review these reflections  on what it means to be a non-Indigenous learner in an Indigenous language learning course.

You can also access excellent Métis Books & Resources, with 100% of proceeds going back to non-profit initiatives like this!

Braiding Sweetgrass for Educators Course

Wednesday, Jan 8, 15, 22, 29 – 4pm Pacific Time / 7pm Eastern Time – Zoom

Join us for these four engaging and insightful online sessions which will unpack the essential elements of Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults.

This will be facilitated by award-winning and best-selling Indigenous author, Monique Gray Smith, who adapted Robin Wall Kimmerer’s New York Times Best selling book, Braiding Sweetgrass for a new generation of readers. She is well known for her storytelling, spirit of generosity and focus on resilience.

Monique will take you on a learning journey, exploring the 6 sections of the book and the chapters within each of them, including key content for classroom and school use.

Outdoor Learning in the Early Years

Tuesday, January 14 – 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern Time – Zoom

Join this panel of incredible educators, researchers, authors and practitioners in talking all things Outdoor Learning in the Early Years!

This free virtual workshop will be packed full of useful tools, resources, and ideas for building your outdoor learning practice tailored specifically for the early years.

Early Years Presenter Panel:

• Anne Stires
• Dr. Gillian Judson
• Dr. Michelle McKay
• Klara Redford
• Jacob Rodenburg
• Lisa Lalonde

Kanien’kéha (Mohawk) Introductory Language Course

Wednesday evenings, 5:30pm-7:00pm Eastern Time: Jan 15, 22 & 29 / Feb 5, 12 19, 26 / Mar 5

This course is open to everyone – both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants who wish to learn to uplift language revitalization. The colonial names of the geographic regions that this course would be most applicable for are Ontario, Quebec and New York. If you are a non-Indigenous language learner, we invite you to review these reflections on what it means to be a non-Indigenous learner in an Indigenous language learning course.

In this course we will introduce a little vocabulary and a lot of the grammatical structure of Kanyen’kéha (the “Mohawk” language). It begins with the sound system and alphabet and ends with students being able to introduce themselves, make complex statements, ask and answer questions.

The Medicine of Stories – Storytelling Sessions

January to May – 3:30pm Pacific Time – Online Learning

Early Bird Registration December 17th

Join us for four thought provoking, intimate, and wise visits as Monique and her Indigenous guests explore the ways stories are medicine, the ways to use stories and storytelling and to listen to the stories that have influenced our hearts and life journeys.

• Jan 30: Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer
• March 27: Richard Van Camp
• April 24: Judy Halbert and Linda Kaser
• May 29: Leona Prince

Climate and Sustainability Education Games and Resources

February 4, 2025 – Online Learning

Teaching about climate change can be daunting for educators. With science-backed, action based approaches – especially those that engage the imagination through play, you can engage learners without instilling fear and inspire them to feel empowered as they learning about climate and sustainability. Whether it’s on a board or through hands-on activities, teaching about climate and sustainability has never been more fun!

Presenters

• Lori McDonald
• Maxine Koskie
• Sam Levac Levey
• Ian Shanahan

Disability Justice in Outdoor Learning

Join Julie and Kristie, two accessibility consultants, as they provide a foundation on what Disability Justice is and how it can be used to create accessible and inclusive learning experiences in nature. Disability Justice is a movement and a framework that can guide educators on how to assess and create inclusive nature experiences, as well as how to support disabled and neurodivergent learners. This virtual workshop will review one of the disability justice principles and show you step-by-step how to incorporate the principle into your work. Audience members are encouraged to come with all of their accessibility and inclusion questions! Julie and Kristie’s favorite part of presenting is providing support during Q&A.

Indigenous Resources for the Early & Elementary Years

Explore the plethora of Indigenous resources available to support all youth in developing core skills in reading, writing, science all while nurturing social and emotional wellness skills. This workshop will share with educators how authentic Indigenous resources can connect students to place through evidence based literacy, numeracy and science curriculums. The new Decodables series, developed in conjunction with Dyslexia Canada also specially supports those will challenges like dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Join to get inspired on how to embed Indigenous resources into your Early and Elementary education practice.

Presenters:

• Qwultultun (Robert) Goldsmith
• Emma Metallic
• Natalie Laurin
• Dr Valdine Bjornson

The Classroom Gardener: 4-Session Online Course

Wednesdays, February 19-March 12, 2025 – 5:00-6:00 pm Pacific Time – Online Learning

This series will offer pedagogical insights, paired with practical expertise, by teacher and classroom gardening expert Megan Zeni. Sessions will be scaffolded for building school garden capacity and address common barriers alongside low cost solutions. Most suitable for elementary school teachers working with learners aged 5 – 12.

Teaching Ideas and Activities for using Sit Spots

With Teacher, Outdoor Educator and Author Lauren MacLean

Sitting in nature with students is not just a way to pass the time. The sit spot pedagogy is grounded in educational research literature and proven to engage students, deepen their core subject and interpersonal skills and build relationships with themselves and the world around them.

In this workshop Lauren will build on her picture book work ‘Me and My Sit Spot’ to share her new educator’s guide on how to implement the sit spot pedagogy, whatever your experience level of outdoor learning is. Suitable for primary and intermediate level educators, Lauren will introduce the framework beneath sit spot pedagogy, how to get started, and how to build your practice including weekly sit spot activities and connections to the First Peoples’ Principles of Learning

Outdoor Learning Certification Program

30 hours, self-paced – start at any time

Learn how to integrate the outdoors into your teaching practice using effective strategies and resources in this interactive online course for K-12 educators.

The course includes:

• 30 hrs of Self-paced Learning through 10 Online Learning Modules
• 3 Live Workshops (recorded if you can’t make it live)
• Hands-on activities for you and your class as you learn
• Outdoor Learning Certificate (upon completion)
• $10 CAD Coupon for the Outdoor Learning Store
• Discounts at the Take Me Outside Store