Abstract
Indigenous children's literature is a vital resource for nurturing cultural understandings and appreciation from an early age for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. This paper presents insights gathered from a workshop titled "Nurturing Indigenous Childhoods Through Themed Picture Books: Making Connections to the Local," which emerged as a culmination of our collaborative work on a massive open online course (MOOC) centered on Indigenous pedagogy in early childhood education. We curated a list of Indigenous children's books and engaged in discussions on the significance of Indigenous literature in nurturing cultural identity and literacy learning. In doing so, we aspired to create inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments that honour Indigenous perspectives and empower children to navigate the complexities of the world with empathy and understanding. Incorporating Indigenous literature into early learning practices presents unique challenges and considerations that educators must carefully navigate. To address these considerations, we have provided reflective prompts and guiding questions designed to encourage educators' active engagement with their local Indigenous communities. In turn, it is hoped that early childhood educators will feel better supported in engaging with Indigenous children’s literature and in cultivating cultural understanding, empathy, and appreciation among young learners.
Author Biography
Lori Huston
Lori Huston is a Métis scholar and doctoral candidate in Curriculum Studies at the University of British Columbia. Her research centers on Indigenous early childhood education, exploring how local First Nation knowledge and teaching practices can guide a heart-centered approach to education that helps reclaim cultural knowledge and strengthen Indigenous sovereignty.
Dr. Jan Hare
Dr. Jan Hare is an Anishinaabe scholar and educator from the M’Chigeeng First Nation in northern Ontario. She is dean and professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Hare holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Indigenous Pedagogy, focusing on the complex processes of teaching from Indigenous knowledge frameworks.
Ashleigh Janis
Ashleigh Janis is a White settler with Ukrainian and Polish ancestry. She is a PhD student in the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy at the University of British Columbia and a researcher with Ongomiizwin Research at the University of Manitoba. Her research is focused on supporting anti-racism and decolonization in early childhood education.
Leigh Kweon
Leigh Kweon is a 1.5-generation immigrant settler of South Korean ancestry. She is an MA student in the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy at the University of British Columbia. Her research is around concerns of responsibility and conscience of an immigrant settler living on stolen lands. With a background in early learning and curriculum work with young children, her current work as an early childhood education instructor is grounded in questions about settler colonial subjectivities.
Recommended Citation
Huston, L.,
Hare, D.,
Janis, A.,
&
Kweon, L.
(2025).
Making connections to the local: exploring the role of Indigenous literature in early childhood education.
Occasional Paper Series,
(54), 44-59.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58295/2375-3668.1557
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