7 Connecting UDL with Indigenous Perspectives

Earlier in this module, the relationship between UDL and Indigenous ways of teaching and learning was highlighted. At this point, let us pause to learn and think about this relationship in more detail.

Indigenous societies and cultures, even those whose traditional territories overlap, can be very diverse, and it is difficult to make blanket statements about any aspect of them. Instead, let us look at one example of an Indigenous community in Manitoba. Dr. Nigaan Sinclair, a professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, offers his thoughts on Indigeneity and the university from an Anishinaabe perspective in this TEDx Talk video. While his talk does not address UDL specifically, while you watch, try to identify a few of the ways that we might perceive connections between an Anishinaabeg approach to teaching and learning and the UDL model.

You may choose between watching the full 18-minute video (recommended) or a more focused, 8-minute portion of this talk. In particular, you may wish to give some thought to:

• Given what we learn in this video about Indigenous models of teaching and learning, what do you think an Anishinaabeg perspective would identify as barriers to learning that some students may face within the colonial university model?
• What aspects of the Anishinaabeg approach to teaching and learning do you believe embody values that are also expressed in the UDL model and its three principles: (1) multiple means of engagement, (2) multiple means of representation, and (3) multiple means of action and expression?
• How does Dr. Sinclair’s talk itself model teaching practices that foster engagement and accessibility?

You can watch it from the following links: