Learning on Indigenous Land

As an educator, my responsibility is to leave the spaces that we operate in as natural and as untouched as possible. When class ends and the children go home, the lands that we’ve explored should continue to thrive. I have been educating myself on Indigenous teachings to help shape the way I show up in outdoor spaces. Leaders like Leigh Joseph Styawat have been an influence on me through her books and resources. She reminds us that practicing sustainability in our natural environments supports Indigenous identity and strengthens our connections to the land. Joseph’s book The Land Knows Me:A Nature Walk Exploring Indigenous Wisdom, not only teaches me but allows me to easily include our students in land-based learning. Author Leona Prince said that we should not just be “saying land acknowledgements but actually living it”. I keep that at the back of my mind every day. Programs like Natural Curiosity offer resources to outdoor educators to guide best practice in linking the environment and Indigenous education.

I haven't deeply considered how to avoid speaking for Indigenous people, rather than honouring their presence and knowledge. I am still learning and growing and am committed to bringing the most accurate information to our students. As a beginner to ‘truths about the land’ I just want the children to find the same joy and excitement in the land as I do. I am fascinated by how nature never wastes anything. Trees, nursery stumps and mycelium all work together to give dead forest new life. The rapid transformation of the land in springtime is equally exciting. I find it remarkable how much shade trees provide in the heat of summer, it seems like we would actually burn to death without them. Nature is doing it all it can to keep us alive, I want my students to acknowledge that.

Teaching outdoors on Indigenous land is deeply meaningful to me. It allows me to teach children about the land's history, it's offerings, and the stories knowledge, and memories it holds. There is so much lost information living in the land around us, and if we can tap into even a fraction of it, I feel like I’ve done something good.

Respect, gratitude, and stewardship are woven into everything we do. We start small: Respect yourself. Respect each other. Respect the Earth.

Children learn to care for their belongings, to clean up after themselves, to keep things dry and protected. They learn to use their words, honour boundaries, and treat each other with kindness. Then these skills transfer effortlessly to nature. I see them being gentle with insects, leaving plants intact, noticing the world with softer eyes. Our program follows the seasons. Local plants, animals, and cycles become part of our curriculum without force. Children learn the land by living with it.

Let's take a moment to reflect on our relationship with the land we live on. How can we honour its history, nurture its present, and protect its future? Join us in fostering a deeper connection to nature and embracing the wisdom it holds. Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below, and let's continue this journey of learning together.