{"id":52170,"date":"2018-11-29T14:02:17","date_gmt":"2018-11-29T19:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?post_type=cu_story&p=52170"},"modified":"2025-10-18T17:02:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T21:02:48","slug":"indigenous-knowledge-bundles","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/indigenous-knowledge-bundles\/","title":{"rendered":"Bundles of Indigenous Knowledge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Bundles of Indigenous Knowledge\n <\/h1>\n \n <\/header>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/path>\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

Last winter, Carleton Indigenous and Canadian Studies<\/a> Prof. Kahente Horn-Miller<\/a> attended a symposium in downtown Ottawa on Indigenous knowledge and the education system hosted by the Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, she was developing an online class \u2014 Introduction to Indigenous Studies \u2014 and was exploring how to make online learning a useful tool for bringing Indigenous knowledge into the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senator Murray Sinclair, the former chair of Canada\u2019s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC<\/a>), was at the symposium. One of the TRC\u2019s Calls to Action<\/a> is about integrating Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into the country\u2019s post-secondary institutions, and Horn-Miller was thinking about the most effective way to do this at Carleton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some universities have introduced mandatory courses for all first-year students. Others are opting for massive open online courses (MOOCs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bundles
Prof. Kahente Horn-Miller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But there can be resentment when students are required to take a class, and it can be difficult to find enough qualified instructors to teach thousands of students. Moreover, it can be challenging to engage students in large lecture halls or through MOOCs, especially if they\u2019re not invested in learning the material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horn-Miller had an idea: a series of focused Indigenous knowledge modules, available online for faculty members to deliver in their classes. But she didn\u2019t like the term \u201cmodules.\u201d Instead, the word \u201cbundles\u201d came to mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBundles are what we keep all of our teachings and sacred medicines in,\u201d Horn-Miller says of the Carleton University Collaborative Indigenous Learning Bundles<\/a> (CUCILB) project, designed as a resource for instructors and a learning tool for students to provide the factual and theoretical basis for understanding Indigenous history and politics in Canada, while prompting students to consider how this knowledge might be applied in their areas of study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhether symbolic or real, we put our knowledge into bundles so we can share. \u2018Collaborative\u2019 is a key word too. We\u2019re all doing our part, on either the process or the content, and building bridges while working together to make change,\u201d says Horn-Miller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn our view \u2014 the Haudenosaunee view \u2014 when you come into this world you have gifts. When you grow up, you contribute to the collective by sharing these gifts. My goal is to connect with people and share. My role, as an Indigenous educator, is to provide opportunities for people to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\"Bundles<\/figure>\n\n\n

Indigenous Learning Bundles Already Available for Classroom Use<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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The bundles were to be officially launched at an event at Carleton\u2019s Ojikwanong Centre <\/a>on Dec. 3, 2018, but four were already available for classroom use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n