The fourth annual treaty education camp was held at the University of Regina this past weekend to help teachers incorporate treaty teachings into their educational planning.
The event is free and open to teachers, faculty and anyone interested in learning more about residential schools, treaty education and several other related subjects.
Raquel Oberkirsch is one of the TreatyEdCamp organizers and says the event was started as a response to teacher concerns on how to approach treaty education.
“Treaty education has been mandatory in Saskatchewan for over a decade, but many teachers aren’t confident in teaching it,” she says.
UR S.T.A.R.S. (Students & Teachers Anti-Racist/Anti-Oppressive Society) puts on the camp.
The pre-conference keynote speaker on Friday was Anishinaabe comedian, writer, and community activist Ryan McMahon.
Two-spirit Nēhiyaw (Cree) writer and student Erica Violet Lee was the keynote speaker on Saturday.
Around 400 people attended this year’s camp compared to approximately 375 last year.
Oberkirsch, who is also a teacher at Ruth M. Buck Elementary school in Regina, says the camp always has a lasting educational impact.
(Photo: Indigenous scholar and University of Regina assistant professor Melanie Brice speaks at this year’s TreatyEdCamp. Photo courtesy of Raquel Oberkirsch.)