In recent decades, educators have been seeking ways to improve outcomes for Indigenous students. Yet most Indigenous education still takes place within a theoretical framework based in Eurocentric thought.

In Teaching Each Other, Linda Goulet and Keith Goulet provide an alternative framework for teachers working with Indigenous students – one that moves beyond acknowledging Indigenous culture to one that actually strengthens Indigenous identity. Drawing on Nehinuw (Cree) concepts such as kiskinaumatowin, or “teaching each other,” Goulet and Goulet provide a new approach to teaching Indigenous students.

Kiskinaumatowin transforms the normally hierarchical teacher-student relationship by making students and teachers equitable partners in education. Enriched with the success stories of educators who are applying Nehinuw concepts in Saskatchewan, Canada, this book demonstrates how this framework works in practice. The result is an alternative teaching model that can be used by teachers anywhere who want to engage with students whose culture may be different from the mainstream.

Drawing on Nehinuw (Cree) educational concepts, this book provides a new theoretical and practical model for teaching Indigenous students.

1 Where We Are in Indigenous Education

2 Where We’ve Been: Sociohistorical Realities

3 What to Build Upon: Sociocultural Strengths

4 How to Get There: Conceptualizing Effective Teaching

5 Weechihitowin, Helping and Supporting Relationships: The Foundation

6 Weetutoskemitowin, Working Together: Social Systems

7 Iseechigehina, Planned Actions: Connection to the Process

8 Weechiseechigemitowin, Strategic Alliances: Connection to the Content

9 Breaking Trail: Stories Outside the (Classroom) Box

10 Ininee mamitoneneetumowin, Indigenous Thinking: Emerging Theory of Indigenous Education

Appendix 1: Cree orthographic chart

Appendix 2: Model of effective teaching for Indigenous students: Categories, subcategories, and attributes

Notes; References; Index