Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies: An Act for Reconciliation and Anti-Racist Education

by Jo Chrona

★ Starred selection for CCBC's Best Books Ideal for Teachers 2023! Now a National Best Seller! How can Indigenous knowledge systems inform our teaching practices and enhance education? How do we create an education system that embodies an anti-racist approach and equity for all learners? This powerful and engaging resource is for non-Indigenous educators who want to learn more, are new to these conversations, or want to deepen their learning. Some educators may come to this work with some trepidation. You may feel that you are not equipped to engage in Indigenous education, reconciliation, or anti-racism work. You may be anxious about perpetuating misconceptions or stereotypes, making mistakes, or giving offence. In these chapters, I invite you to take a walk and have a conversation with a good mind and a good heart. With over two decades in Indigenous education, author Jo Chrona encourages readers to acknowledge and challenge assumptions, reflect on their own experiences, and envision a more equitable education system for all. Each chapter includes   Grounded in the First Peoples Principles of Learning, this comprehensive guide builds on Chrona’s own experiences in British Columbia’s education system to explore how to shape anti-racist and equitable education systems for all. Perfect for reading on your own or with your professional learning community!

Genres: Indigenous, Education, Nonfiction, Teaching, History, Social Justice, Professional Development

232 pages, Paperback

Published September 6, 2022

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heavy book to get through but well worth the work. Highly recommend to every educator in Canada and beyond.

[Sam Sawazki · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that caused me a lot of reflection and plans for action like volunteering at a powwow this May and finding more local resources. I see a lot of what Chrona discusses in her chapter on racism still happening in schools. I’m sure I’ll be recommending this one over and over to my colleagues.

[Christina Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jo Chrona’s “Wayi Wah!: Indigenous Pedagoies: An Act for Reconciliation and Anti-Racist Education” is an excellent pedagogical resource for teachers in Canada and the US who are looking to broaden their perspectives and better reach all of their students. Thought-provoking in its subject matter, providing ample opportunity for personal reflection and discussion, Chrona shares her own experiences in education as a counterpoint, deepening the educators understanding of the journey of Indigenous people to access and to build a more inclusive and representative education system that extends beyond Western ideology and practice, working towards embracing First Peoples Principles of Learning.

Chrona’s is one of a number of new education resources published by Portage & Main Press in the last couple of years which provide educators across the country the means with which to reflect, adapt, and evolve in order to more effectively meet the needs of all learners in our communities. This would make a fantastic Professional Development Library addition and with all of the discussion and reflection points, a great Teacher Book Club read. Along with “Resurgence,” both books provide excellent insight and tools for educators at all levels.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource for any K-12 teacher, and even post-secondary educators, on how to respectfully integrate Indigenous teaching practices into BC classrooms. It was especially helpful in that several actionable items were included throughout the book, so that you can go ahead and get started instead of sitting and wondering how.

As someone who teaches molecular biology at a college, I have a difficult task ahead of me in some aspects of integrating Indigenous ways of knowing, and I found many sections of the book did not really apply to me (it's heavily focused on K-12 curriculum changes). However, even I was able to glean some knowledge, self-reflection, and some small changes I could apply to help my classroom become a more welcoming environment.

[Jennifer Daniells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for professional development. This has amazing resources, inspiration, and teachings. I would highly recommend for every educator to read and process.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, a must read for all educators.

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for anyone wanting to understand why Indigenous Pedagogies are essential to contemporary education in Canada, what they are, how far we have come and next steps forward. Jo Chrona does not sugar coat or simplify the complexities of this work.

[Jessica Liew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well written and provides a good overview Indigenous-specific anti-racism pedagogy. If you have only ever been exposed to the First Peoples Principles of Learning through the popular poster that hangs in many classrooms, Chapter 5 will be especially illuminating. If you are a BC teacher, several sections of this book will provide you with insight into they WHYs behind the changes taking place in our curriculums and classrooms. If you are not a BC teacher, the changes in BC act as a case study to help you understand what systemic change might look like--though it is still very much a work-in-progress in this province.

Excellent reflection questions throughout, so this would be a great book for a professional development book club.

There are suggestions for putting theory into practice in this book, but there are no specific resources and materials for immediate implementation. More leg work on the educator's part would be needed. If that is what you are looking for, I suggest you check out the FNESC teaching resources, some of which Jo Chrona also had a hand in putting together to support her fellow educators.

[Ellen - most.lyromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated the ideas and reflection questions presented in this work. The process of relearning, reframing and then continuing that learning is an important one. Jo Chrona spoke many times about how important it is to center oneself on the land and to acknowledge who we are and how we came to be here and how we can honour this knowledge. While not an educator in British Columbia, I can see the principles outlined are important for all and the ideas and steps that BC has taken need to continue onward in other provinces - centering ourselves is just the first step on a much longer (and hopefully not painfully slow) journey.

[Joseph Jeffery · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough look at how to reflectively examine Indigenous pedagogies and our place in them. There are no easy answers presented, because there are none to be had. Instead through reflective questions Jo Chrona asks us to examine out practice and think deeply in order to move forward. This is not a one and done kind of book. It asks you to practice Indigenous pedagogies by returning to the questions and our own answers as we grow in understanding.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book while doing my masters and it acted as a book to read between books or when waiting in line at the grocery store or when my husband went into Home Depot.
As a non-Indigenous educator, I valued every single word, resource and connection I made with this book. This book should be read by more educators in our country.

[Summer Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a professional book club choice and I think having other professionals discuss each chapter was extremely helpful in seeing different improtant aspects. Jo Chrona makes the book assessible and interesting, while also making the reader constantly reflect on more than just the reflection questions. I have more work to do. I will read the book a few times over!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rereading this was sometimes a struggle. The author is a great writer, very thorough and clear, but my brain got tired from concentrating so hard on the information. I learned a lot, I have a great deal more to learn. I think this should be a must read for every educator in Canada and all other countries with Indigenous Peoples.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The strongest text I have read so far. I like that it had a lot of BC content. Will it solve everything? No. However, I like that a lot of times the answer for educators was akin to "Do the work. Do the learning. Then you can do the teaching."

[Annelise Ogle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book underlines the importance of who we are in the classroom and how we and our students relate to what we are teaching, in a way that is pragmatic and thoughtful. Should be mandatory reading for all teachers.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, informative, and necessary book for all educators and curriculum developers, but especially those living in Canada who may wish to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action in Education respecting Indigenous Nations in Canada.
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[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be mandatory reading for every Canadian educator. A fantastic resource for people at all levels of their education career across various positions - we must strive to be lifelong learners and accept there is always more to understand, more to learn, unlearn, and relearn.

[Alyssa Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must read for every educator (especially BC and Canadian educators)

[Yvon Cote · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book for all in education to read. Full of useful resources and a great way to start or continue your journey in indigenous education.

[Juju · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for all teachers who want to be active in reconciliation.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gem. I recommend that every educator, library staff member, parent, and really anyone remotely attached to the field of education read this book.

[Niyomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

[Holly (bibliophiles_bookstagram) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educators - add this one to your TBR! It will definitely make you think about what you at bringing and learning in your classrooms.

[_books_with_jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Reconciliation, equity, or social justice matter in any way to you, read this book. Read this as part of my research for a grad course and the read was incredibly impactful. Highly recommend!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an educator, I really enjoyed this book. There were definitely some very heavy chapters that left me with lots of reflection. There are lots of great resources listed throughout as well.