Research summary
Education plays a vital role in reconciliation efforts. But missing from many efforts to decolonize education is the opportunity for educators and community members to grapple with their own stories in relation to the broader narratives of colonization, decolonization and reconciliation.
As Canada Research Chair in Rural Community Education for Reconciliation, Dr. Michelle Lam is building on the idea that reconciliation is personal work. She and her research team are creating space for individual understandings of personal histories, worldviews, identities, communities and places. They aim to rectify the disconnects between what students learn about residential schools, treaty responsibilities, and Indigenous/non-Indigenous relationships. They are also highlighting the strength, capacity and diverse experiences of Indigenous Peoples, newcomers, and settlers in rural communities and studying social media’s potential to support learning, growth and connection in these places.