The Courage to Care - Listening to the Heartbeat of Mother Earth Through a Seasonal Pedagogy in the Early Years
Facilitated By: Dr. Hopi Martin
Recorded On: November 17, 2023
This recording is of Dr. Hopi Martin's session called, Listening to the Heartbeat of Mother Earth Through a Seasonal Pedagogy in the Early Years.
This event was made possible by funding from the Province of Ontario, City of London, Middlesex County, Elgin County, and Wellness Together Canada. This opportunity brought the London-Middlesex-Elgin early years systems together to reflect, learn, grow, and celebrate the invaluable contributions early years professionals make each day in service to children and families across our regions.
Dr. Hopi Lovell Martin, Oshkaabewis (Sacred Helper, Messenger, Fire Keeper, Lodge Caretaker) earned his PhD in Ojibwe Developmental Psychology and Education from OISE/UT through his research of Listening to Land as Teacher in Early Childhood Education (2021) which brought forward an Ojibwe Anishinaabe perspective of 'how learning happens'. As a mixed race Lenape/Briton/European born in the United States without tribal belonging, this research grew from his experience of being 'named' and 'claimed' by his Niiyawe'enh (Namesake), Dr. Gokoomis Jacque Lavellée, her family, and the traditional responsibilities of her Dede's Waabizheshi Doomed (Ojibwe Marten Clan) in the urban context of Toronto, Ontario, Canada where he now lives with his family down the street from his 'Auntie Jacque' (Martin citing Lavellée, 2021).
The 'Seasonal Pedagogy' that emerged from this Indigenous, land-based research suggests an ethical approach for Peoples/Nations from all Four Directions to come into relationship with Traditional Ojibwe Bush Knowledge through a growing network of 'Bush Schools' that are being established alongside settler approaches to early years education.
You are invited to come listen to Dr. Hopi Martin, Waabizheshi Oshkaabewis (Ojibwe Marten Clan Sacred Helper, Messenger, Fire Keeper, Lodge Caretaker) share about his research of Ojibwe Developmental Psychology and Education called 'Listening to Land as Teacher in Early Childhood Education (2021)'. This land-based research uncovered an old Circle Teaching in relation to the Four Seasons that has particular relevance to 'how learning happens' for Human Beings in relationship to Mother Earth and Father Sky. While this Circle Teaching is remembered by Ojibwe, this research proved that this 'Seasonal Pedagogy' could ethically be learned and applied by Peoples/Nations from all Four Directions, particularly through common experiences of unstructured, land-based play with children through the Four Seasons around the Great Lakes.
REFLECTIVE ACTIVITY - Connecting Land Acknowledgement with Edge of the Bush Protocol (Martin, 2023)
RELATIONSHIPS:
What is your relationship to the land and her Indigenous Peoples? (Martin, 2023)
PASSING:
What is in your Heart? (Martin, 2023)
What are you grateful for? (Martin, 2023)
What are your intentions? (Martin, 2023)
MOVEMENT:
Where are you and your family from? (Martin, 2023)
Where are you living now? (Martin, 2023)
BIRTH:
Who are you? (Martin, 2023)
What are your names? (Martin, 2023)