Safe Spaces

I am curious on what some of your ideas are on how you would make the classroom a safe place for Indigenous students of any culture? What things would you adjust or do to make these students feel welcomed and safe?

Realize that some non-Indigenous students come from backgrounds that may have entrenched stereotypical views of Indigenous Peoples - have a school wide code of zero tolerance for stereotypical comments.

I would create a safe space in my classroom by allowing students to express their knowledge with no judgement. I would let my students know that they will not be judged for what they know or don't know about Indigenous cultures (given that it is not anything negative). I would also not assume that the Indigenous students have connections with their Indigenous roots and let them know that it is okay if they do not know where they came from. They can just listen and take in the knowledge they learn from class and others around them.