SKODEN for faculty: Teaching, talking and sharing about and for reconciliation | First Peoples@Seneca | Seneca Polytechnic

Seneca’s SKODEN program: Teaching, Talking and Sharing about and for Reconciliation provides faculty an opportunity to consider how to decolonize and Indigenize their courses through the support of the Indigenous community at Seneca. 

SKODEN is a 12 week program. In these weekly gatherings, Seneca staff consider how to decolonize and Indigenize programs and courses they are responsible for. Through a lens of looking back to understand where we go forward, participants learn about Indigenous knowledges, Canadian colonialization, and the Indigenous resurgence. This learning opportunity is intended to assist the efforts of First Peoples@Seneca to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA Calls for Justice, and to improve student experiences. Teaching, talking, and sharing about and for reconciliation provides staff an opportunity to consider how to decolonize and Indigenize curriculum and pedagogy through the support of the Indigenous community at Seneca. Ultimately, the key to the class is that reconciliation is not an Indigenous issue or responsibility. We are all treaty partners. Participants are empowered to make decisions, given resources, and a safe space to ask questions and make mistakes. 

SKODEN and STOODIS – both are terms commonly used in First Nations communities.  They have become rallying cries for reconciliation and recognition of Indigenous rights.  SKODEN (slang for Let’s Go Then) is the initial class that we ask all faculty interested in incorporating Indigenous content into their curriculum.  STOODIS (slang for Let’s Do This which is the response to SKODEN), is the community of practice of SKODEN graduates. 

To get involved contact Randy Pitawanakwat or Darcey Dachyshyn