30- Indigenous Resources for the Early & Elementary Years (4:00 – 5:00pm online) BONUS Free Outdoorlearning Session

Explore the plethora of Indigenous resources available to support all youth in developing core skills in reading, writing, science all while nurturing social and emotional wellness skills.

This workshop will share with educators how authentic Indigenous resources can connect students to place through evidence based literacy, numeracy and science curriculums. The new Decodables series, developed in conjunction with Dyslexia Canada also specially supports those will challenges like dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Join to get inspired on how to embed Indigenous resources into your Early and Elementary education practice.

Presenters:

• Qwultultun (Robert) Goldsmith is from Quw’utsun First Nation (Cowichan Tribes). He was born in Vancouver but has lived on Vancouver Island, in Nanaimo, for most of his life. Robert is the father of two children, Melainee and Rylan. Robert joined Strong Nations as a shipper/receiver in 2018. Since then, his role has expanded to include warehouse management and customer service, and Director of Publishing. Robert is now the Manager of Sales. 
• Emma Metallic (she/her) is from the Mi’gmaq community, Listuguj, Quebec, located in the seventh district Gespe’gewa’gi, Mi’gma’gi. Emma holds a BA in Contemporary studies and Law, Justice, & Society with a minor in Indigenous Studies from the University of King’s College. Emma is passionate about writing stories that reflect her community’s knowledge, needs, and desires. While a learner of the Mi’gmaw language, Emma strives to use the language as much as she can in her day-to-day life. Nipugtug is her debut book. 
• Natalie Laurin (she/her) is a Métis and settler illustrator and interdisciplinary designer, with family roots in the Georgian Bay Métis community. Natalie holds a Bachelor of Design from NSCAD University, where she majored in Interdisciplinary Design and minored in Illustration. A central goal of her work is to create with a respectful, informed, and collaborative approach – especially when designing for communities other than her own. By using her talents to illustrate books for Indigenous children, she hopes to inspire youth to engage in our collective revitalization journey through themes of community and relationship-building. 
• Dr Valdine Bjornson has completed a Doctor of Education focusing on adults with Dyslexia in Manitoba. She has founded the Reading and Learning Clinic Canada in order to provide Canadian educators evidence-based professional development as well as advocacy and intervention to students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. She is grateful to be part of Teachers for Reading Canada (as Director of Teacher Training) which offers FREE Accredited OGA courses to educators across Canada. She also works as a literacy specialist in a K-8 school in Winnipeg. At the University of Manitoba, she works as a Reading Strategist at the Indigenous Student Centre.

This workshop will feature authors and creators of excellent children’s resources such as: 

• Cedar School Decodable Stories (20 book set)
• We Are All Connected Indigenous Biodiversity Book Bundle
• Strong Stories Bundle of 48 Indigenous Books for Elementary Students
• Strong Science Animals: Indigenous Resource Bundle