Monday of the Second Week of Advent
Stripping education from children sets them up for failure. An education should build confidence in children and their abilities, and encourage them to use these abilities toward whatever life path they might choose.
In this season of reflection, let us think about the ways we have been blessed by our educational circumstances.
Let us act to ensure that all children receive those same opportunities and more.
Let us act so all may have a chance to pursue their dreams.
-Meditation by Indigenous Solidarity Collective Member Tiffany Hunsinger.
The 2022 Advent Calendar is a project of CTA's Indigenous Solidarity Collective, a working group that addresses the Catholic Church's historical and current role in colonialization. To support more projects from working groups like this one, please consider making a contribution!
Call To Action's 2022 Advent Calendar, planned and written by the Indigenous Solidarity Collective, provides 27 days of prayer and study to lead into action and solidarity with Indigenous communities. Here is today's meditation.
Call to Action: 11-12 Education
“11. We call upon the federal government to provide adequate funding to end the backlog of First Nations students seeking a post-secondary education.
12. We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to develop culturally appropriate early childhood education programs for Aboriginal families.”
December 5th, 2022
Further Reading
The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition has an extensive list of recommended books that center voices of Indigenous Americans and First Nations people.
"Indigenous languages make inroads into public schools" from Salon.com.
"The Role of Culture in Culturally Compatible Education" from the Journal of American Indian Education.
"The Effects of the No Child Left Behind Act on Language and Culture Education in Navajo Public Schools" from the Journal of American Indian Education.
The watercolor paintings featured on this calendar were created by Duane Yazzie, an artist of Hopi and Navajo ancestry. Yazzie creates artwork that reflects his Indigenous heritage and his childhood spent in the Southwest.
