Including Indigenous Perspectives in Energy Education

Abstract

Education is important for reconciliation, healing from a history of injustices, like the impact of the residential school system. This paper presents how Indigenous perspectives were incorporated into an existing University of Calgary course for adaptation at the University of Regina. 'Introduction to Energy and the Environment', has been teaching about nuclear power as part of the context of the Canadian energy mix for years, and this process improved the course. Interviews of Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and professionals in the field were presented to the students as course materials. This adaptation of a University of Calgary course for the University of Regina created a space reflective of traditional teaching and learning practices while promoting Indigenous voices. This adaptation demonstrates how conventional science classes benefit from including Indigenous worldviews.