EP22 Indigenous Education Consultant, Carolyn Roberts

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Carolyn Roberts, an award-winning author, Indigenous academic, and educator whose work invites us to think more deeply about what it means to decolonize education. Carolyn is St̓át̓imc and Stó:lō from the Thevarge family of N'Quatqua and the Kelly family from Ch'iyáqtel, and is also a member of the Squamish Nation. She is the author of Re-Storying Education and Tess's Red Dress: Honouring Love & Family and currently teaches in UBC's Teacher Education and NITEP programs. She also is writing another book which she talks about near the end of the episode. Our conversation explores what decolonizing education can look like in practice, whose stories and worldviews are represented, how we develop a more critical lens, and how the ways we teach can create greater belonging, agency, relationship, and participation in learning. Carolyn also talks about the importance of moving beyond talking about this work to actually doing it, even when we are worried about getting it wrong. We explore listening, relationship, Indigenous brilliance, and her hopes for future generations of Indigenous students. Near the end of our conversation, Carolyn brings us back to a powerful question about education and leadership: how do we learn to be human and see the humanity in one another? I am deeply grateful to Carolyn for sharing her knowledge, stories, and perspective in this episode of Small Fires. Carolyn Roberts- Indigenous Education Consultant - www.carolynroberts.net