Current faculty research projects

Researcher: Milford, Dr. Todd

Researcher: Begoray, Dr. Deborah

Researcher: Pantaleo, Dr. Sylvia

  • Reading and Writing Interactive Texts
  • Adolescent Literacy Practices in an Era of Radical Change
  • Constructing Literary Understandings: Grade One Students Respond to Picture Storybook Read-Alouds
    (Elva Knight Award, International Reading Association, 2002)
  • More about Dr. Sylvia Pantaleo

Researcher: Raptis, Dr. Helen

 

Researcher: Prest, Dr. Anita

Everything is Connected Music Education Conference (please see tabs below)

 

Singing Dreaming songs into reality

Facilitated by Garry Oker

Singing dreamers song into reality is a workshop on expressing Beaver language songs and mixing traditional drum songs and turn it into music. In this workshop I will provide examples on how indigenous traditional songs and language can be used for inspiration to create innovative music. The participants will hear multiple musical ideas and experiments to encourage youth to express their language in live performances and mixing drum beats using vocables and launch pad technology. Singing dreamers song into reality is a workshop on expressing Beaver language songs and mixing traditional drum songs and turn it into music. In this workshop I will provide examples on how indigenous traditional songs and language can be used for inspiration to create innovative music. The participants will hear multiple musical ideas and experiments to encourage youth to express their language in live performances and mixing drum beats using vocables and launch pad technology.

 

All My Relations-Western Classical Music and Indigenous music making meet in conversation with cellist and composer, Cris Derksen, and opera singer and performer, Rebecca Hass

Facilitated by Cris Derksen and Rebecca Hass

What does excellence mean in music? And through whose world view? How do Indigenous musicians walk in multiple musical worlds and find expression and acceptance? What role does music education play in supporting the next generation of Indigenous musician? Join Indigenous cellist and composer Cris Derksen, and opera singer and host Rebecca Hass, as they share their professional music making journeys and through their conversation learn how carrying these two musical traditions forward has impacted their experience of identity, creativity and community. 

 

Story to Song

Facilitated by Jessica Johnson, Drew Blaney, and Gail Blaney

The team will go over the process of the creation and execution of the Story to Song (S2S) program. This program ran for several years before the pandemic and provided local and guest Indigenous students in grades 10-12 students with graduation credits for participating in a 3 day – two night experiential cultural learning retreat. Students were exposed to Indigenous culture in various forms, including arts, music, and storytelling with Elders, community, and Knowledge Keepers. 

This program would be easily adaptable to different communities. Through the participation in cultural activities, the students worked with support of education staff, Tla’amin Nation staff, Elders and Knowledge Keepers to create modern ‘traditional’ songs. The presenters will walk the participants through the creation, and lessons learned so that District Principals, Indigenous communities, or music teachers can replicate this process in their districts. 

 

1001 Indigenous Drums

Facilitated by Dr. Davita Marsen and Chas Desjarlais 

This session is interactive and lecture based. All audiences are welcomed. The content of this session is relevant for people working with Elementary students, Secondary students, and adults. Drums will be provided during the workshop for those participants who do not have one. My recommendation is to advance Indigenous drum work as a more formal pedagogy and an active element in the curriculum in the public education domain. The analysis of Indigenous drumming and singing aligns with evidence-based approaches and the quantification of learning. The VSB has expressed its interest in this research and the potential findings and outcomes of the impacts of Indigenous drumming and singing on student wellbeing. I intend to positively influence and continue to Indigenize the schooling curriculum with Indigenous drum work and through scaffolding primary education grades kindergarten through 12. People are welcome to bring their own drums.

The Circle of the Drum

Facilitated by Roslyn Smith 

In this workshop, I will speak to the teachings of the drum. I will further participant understanding of the drum as a sacred hoop and why circles are important in Indigenous cultures. A rhythmic reading of the poem, “The Drum” by Laurel Emert of the Blackfoot Nation will be shared as well as numerous Indigenous songs.
This is an interactive workshop where attendees will sing, play, and dance, and connect with one another. Participants who are able to are invited to bring a drum. A limited number of drums will be provided and can be shared to include all who are present.

 

A Two Step Dance Around the Drum

Facilitated by Mavis Aubichon 

"A Two-Step Dance Around the Drum" participants will enjoy a short story highlighting the origin of the drum followed by a body break sing along.  They will then find themselves witnessing a drum build and singing songs in a drum circle.  There will be seeds planted throughout the workshop indicating how teachers can approach the drum with students in classroom settings so please arrive with an open mind and heart as well as a willing (or at least curious) spirit.  Drums will be made available for you to experience first-hand. This presentation is suitable for all human beings in any stage or age of life because drum therapy sends good vibrations to the entire circle, and because everything is connected!

 

Indigenous Music Through the Seasonal Rounds

Facilitated Francois Prince, Julie Fisher, and Jen Pighin 

This resource highlights local Indigenous musicians from Northern BC, and supplies teachers with the audio and/or video clips of their music.  Songs are accompanied by lesson plans that include not only Curricular Competencies and Content, but also FPPL and Indigenous Ways of Knowing.  It was created by a team of Music teachers, Indigenous Education workers and leaders, and permissions and suggestions by the musicians involved. It was the first Learning Team Grant that was supported by both Curriculum & Innovations and Indigenous Education in order to make it happen. This is a living document that we continue to add to, and are now expanding from Elementary to Secondary content. We intend to speak of our journey working together on this project, (Jen- Indigenous leader, Francois – Indigenous musician featured in the project, Julie – lead on the idea and development), as well as showing participants some of the songs and activities, and answering questions to help them to create similar projects for their own districts.

 

Building A Community - Indigenous Drum Making Legacy Project

Facilitated by Ruby Ba and Suzi Bekkattla 

This workshop will use a mix of story-telling and interactive participation to share conversations around embedding Indigenous ways of knowing and being in music classes. As a non-Indigenous educator, Ruby will share the story of an indigenous drum making legacy project that she led at her school in Vancouver under the guidance of the district's Indigenous Education Department admin Dr. Davita Marsden. Using her experiences of working with Indigenous knowledge keepers in a diverse student demographic school community to jumpstart the conversation, participants will then have the opportunity to explore practical ways of bringing community-based teaching principles back to their practice.