Student Tasks

Begin with Your Experience

Before watching any of the videos in this section, read and think about the questions below. Once you’ve watched the videos, return to these questions and your original thinking. How much did your thinking change? What new ideas can you add to your answers now? 

• How can “knowing” help you live in a good way/live the good life? 
• What does it mean to know something? 
• What is the purpose of knowing? 

Listening to Teachings

Indigenous Knowledge | Knowing: Video 1
Elder Tony De Parry from Ginoogaming First Nation speaks about restorative justice in Canada’s justice system.

Indigenous Knowledge | Knowing: Video 2
Elder Tony De Parry from Ginoogaming First Nation discusses the knowledge held by Elders that is valued in the community approach to restorative justice.

Questions:

• When Tony talks about restorative justice in Canada’s justice system (video 2), he says that people who are “educated” in justice don’t understand it. They are “not any smarter than a seven-year-old.” 
  • What kind of “knowing” is valued in Canada’s justice system? What kind of knowing does Tony think should be valued?
  • What does it mean to know justice? Why do the judges not know or understand how to help? 
• What is the difference between how Tony talks about community approaches to justice and Canada’s colonial approach? 
• What kind of knowing and knowledge is valued in the community approach to justice? What kind of learning or lessons? 

Indigenous Knowledge | Knowing: Video 3
Tom Lachinette from Whitesand First Nation shares the creation story and describes the stages of life according to cultural teachings.

Questions:

• How does Tom talk about knowing yourself and understanding teachings?
• What is the purpose of knowing in these stories?