Congratulations to Métis scholar, Yvonne Poitras Pratt and allied scholar, Patricia J. Danyluk from the University of Calgary for their project entitled: Modelling Reconciliation: Educators Building Bridges and Connections.

Initially funded by the Taylor Institute of Teaching and Learning at the University of Calgary, a SoTL project called Building Connections Between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, communities, and schools was launched as a series of pedagogical innovations focused on reconciliatory learning activities inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and their 94 calls to action. The praxis-based learning opportunities initially developed included: service-learning opportunities for pre-service teachers in on-reserve schools; the gathering of learning artefacts from students enrolled in Indigenous education; the hosting of leadership gatherings with diverse scholars experienced in research with Indigenous peoples; and, the design and delivery of a four-course graduate certificate program called Indigenous education: A call to action.

In response to learner and community-identified needs, the project later introduced experiential learning activities in the form of the Brain Architecture Game and a Poverty Simulation event that introduced learners to a firsthand experience of what it feels like to face disadvantage and marginalization. The multi-pronged project demonstrated how a trusting collaboration between an Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholar made real-life strides towards reconciliatory goals through education.