CONT948: Teaching Through Indigenous Arts and Storytelling

Course Schedule

Course Description

Indigenous knowledge and perspectives are increasingly being integrated into K–12 education through arts and storytelling, offering insights into the rich heritage of First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples. Embedding the First Peoples Principles of Learning fosters understanding of Indigenous histories, cultures and knowledge while promoting diversity and inclusivity.

This course explores Indigenous cultures through traditional and contemporary storytelling, music, dance, visual arts and crafts. You’ll examine how these expressions convey knowledge, preserve history and strengthen communities. Through theory and practical application, you’ll gain skills to integrate Indigenous arts and storytelling into multidisciplinary curricula.

By the end of the course, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of Indigenous perspectives and create culturally responsive learning environments. This course is not about how to tell stories or make art but about teaching Indigenous perspectives on storytelling and artistic expression.

What You Will Learn and Do

In this course, you’ll have the opportunity to

• learn the perspectives of Indigenous cultures in shaping arts and storytelling traditions, and how these are woven into K–12 education through arts and storytelling
• explore the significance of traditional art forms and storytelling in conveying Indigenous histories, realities and cultural values and in demonstrating how to integrate them into various K–12 curricula to foster cross-cultural learning
• discover ways Indigenous communities use traditional and contemporary storytelling and expressive arts (e.g., music, dance, visual arts and crafts) to convey knowledge and preserve history
• identify and describe key elements of Indigenous knowledge, perspectives and cultural expressions through arts and storytelling
• appreciate the value of Indigenous storytelling principles, and apply them to create inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments
• critique existing teaching approaches and design instructional strategies and lesson plans to integrate Indigenous perspectives into multi-disciplinary curricula authentically
• demonstrate how individuals of any heritage can contribute to teaching through Indigenous ways of knowing by promoting respect, kindness and mutual learning in diverse educational settings

Application Requirements

Course Materials

Accommodations

Applicants who require accommodations for a specific learning need (e.g., learning disability) within their AQ/ABQ course, should click here for further information and support.

Have a question? Contact us!

Refund Schedule

If you drop a course:

1. by the midpoint of the course, you will receive 100% of your course fee.
2. after the midpoint, before the end of the course, you will receive 50% of your course fee.

For more about our refund policies, visit our Fees & Refunds page.