“Wayi Wah! Building Stronger Education Systems: Intersections Between Indigenous and Anti-Racism Education“
As the K-12 systems in BC continue to we respond the TRC Calls to Action, the Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the 9th Professional Standard for BC Teaching Certificate Holders, we engage in challenging conversations about inequity and systemic racism in education, with the focus on taking informed action to create meaningful change. Beginning teachers are uniquely poised to have a significant impact on this work, and through a combination of presentation, personal reflection, and regular partner chats, we briefly explore:
- what it means to be anti-racist and work for equity in K-12;
- the intersections between Indigenous education and anti-racism work;
- what it can mean to move from fear to learning to growth in anti-racism in Canada;
- how we can understand the roles of bias, privilege, and uncertainty in this work; and
- how we can build on relationships and use our changing spheres of influence to support change.
Jo Chrona is Ganhada of Waap K’oom of the Kitsumkalum First Nation, a Ts’msyen Community in British Columbia. She is also of European ancestry. Jo currently lives in the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples, specifically the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, in the area also known as Victoria, BC.
Jo is a speaker, education consultant and advocate, and author of Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies: An Act for Reconciliation and Anti-Racist Education (2022).
Jo’s professional experience includes over 25 years teaching in both the K-12 and post-secondary systems in British Columbia, working as a policy analyst and curriculum manager for a First Nations education policy and advocacy organization in BC, an advisor to the BC Ministry of Education, and a faculty associate in a BC teacher education program.
Jo has also been involved in curriculum development and resource writing, professional learning through inquiry networks, and Indigenous education. She participated in aspects of educational transformation in BC’s K-12 system, as well as managing and contributing to the development of authentic Indigenous teacher resources. She continues to provide professional learning sessions for education systems in the areas of Indigenous education and anti-racism.
Jo has a Bachelor of Arts in English from SFU, and a Diploma in Education in Guidance Studies and Master’s Degree in Educational Technology from UBC.
Jo consults for education related organizations and offers the following professional learning workshops:
- Wayi Wah! Building Stronger Education Systems: Intersections Between Indigenous Education and Anti-Racism
- Beyond the Poster on the Wall: The First Peoples Principles of Learning
- Authentic Indigenous Resources