Canadian Schools
Reserve your spot for Spring 2027
Indigenous Education Professional Learning Community
Reconnecting Learning to Land, Story, and Season
Do you struggle with trying to authentically infuse Indigenous perspectives in your classroom? Do you want your students to be more connected to the land? Do you want to learn from a seasoned Indigenous educator?
Join our 3-month collaborative journey for K-12 educators to build understanding, strengthen connection, and teach in rhythm with the land, through experiential learning rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing. With a focus on seasonal teaching and land-based learning, every session leads to practical takeaways and immediately impactful learning for your students.
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Led by Jennie Town, an Indigenous facilitator with decades of experience working with K-12 staff and students
Co-hosted by Canadian educators and administrators
Practical, curriculum-connected approaches, not performative activities
Ongoing, collaborative learning with year-long access to the learning community and resources
Ideal for grade-level and department teams to build shared capacity
in their words
Hear from Jennie Town’s past participants!
“Jennie Town has worn many hats over the 15 years and has consistently demonstrated excellence in cultural programming. Her dedication to supporting the community in every possible way is truly inspiring. Through her strong community connections, she has created meaningful opportunities and programs that make a real difference.”
Valerie Kerr (She/Her)
Supervisor, Family and Community Programs SCFLC, Native Child and Family Services of Toronto
“Our students deeply connected with the teachings around heartberries (Ode Min). It was very special to learn with Jennie, and the opportunity to play the drum and actively participate made the experience truly memorable.”
School Teacher
Toronto District School Board
“I really enjoyed the program. Students gained meaningful insight into Indigenous traditions and developed a deeper respect for the land and the Earth.”
School Teacher
Toronto District School Board
“My overall experience working with Deschool was extremely positive. The content was strongly aligned with the curriculum and with my goals for students — understanding our connection to the Earth, recognizing how our actions impact one another, and learning how to care for the land for future generations. Thank you for this opportunity.”
School Teacher
Toronto District School Board
“I’m always excited to attend one of Jennie’s workshops, she puts a lot of thought into her teachings and is very knowledgeable about the land, plants, and Indigenous ways of being. Her three sister’s workshop gave me great ideas to take back to my classroom, so entertaining and the soup was a bonus added touch.”
Nazanni Bell Redbird
Anishnaabemowin Language Culture and Traditions Teacher, TDSB
“…[Jennie] created a safe and nurturing space for the youth, crafted meaningful activities and opportunities for them to grow, heal, support one another, and come together as a family. [She] has so much heart and passion for the community and it truly shows in everything she does. The knowledge she holds and shares creates community and connects everyone through culture.”
Nicole L.
Child & Youth Care Practitioner
[Jennie] opened up a safe space for the community to come together and be creative. I appreciate [her] and [her] continued dedication to our community, [she is] the glue that holds us together. She has done such amazing work in the community and still continue[s] to shed a light where there isn’t any for us to have an opportunity to grow.
Natalie Sweeney
CNN’s Beautiful Creations, Indigenous Community Member
Jennie is able to see within a person, helping bring out their passion for creativity.
Melissa McNeil
Indigenous community member and workshop participant
“Jennie’s impact on my life extends far beyond that of a traditional mentor. She has been an inspiration, a maternal figure, a trusted aunt, and an educator… Jennie has always been a safe haven for me. The lessons I’ve learned from her have been instrumental in helping me establish and maintain my small business. I’m thankful that I’ve been able to share this knowledge with my children, effectively closing the gaps between generations…”
Charlena Toney
Indigenous Community Member
“[Jennie] selflessly gives her gifts to others in the community. She incorporates visual arts, using it to convey messages of traditional ways while boosting engagement and critical thinking with her students…”
Nahanni Bell Redbird ECE
Indigenous Community Member
“Jennie Town has been a huge support to my three Indigenous youth. She has had a powerful impact by encouraging them to find the courage to sell their handmade crafts. Her knowledge and guidance have supported them through teaching and mentorship, and the youth have been thriving in their craft-making…”
Ashley Wheesk, RECE
Parent of 3 siblings being mentored as entrepreneurs, TDSB Gr 8, 9 and 10
Program structure
3 live sessions, once a month. Recordings will be shared.
Session 1 · March 2027
Indigenous Ways of Knowing
Respect, acknowledgment, reciprocity, truth and reconciliation.
Session 2 · April 2027
Cultural Identity & Storytelling
Storytelling as a teaching method, with classroom activities.
Session 3 · May 2027
Seasonal Teaching
Aligning classroom learning with the land and seasonal cycles.
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Asynchronous learning and collaboration on CoLab, an easy-to-use platform for resource sharing, group discussions and networking
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Small group, 1-on-1 and large group collaboration to explore key concepts
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Structured time for cross-school and within-school collaboration, our participants’ most valued feature
Three Foundational Frameworks
Indigenous Ways of Knowing
Learn that there are multiple ways of understanding the world. Explore how Indigenous ways of knowing differ from, and complement, Western approaches, with a focus on respect, acknowledgment, reciprocity, truth and reconciliation.
Cultural Identity & Storytelling
Discover the role of storytelling as a way of teaching, learning and passing down knowledge. Learn how stories support identity, belonging and connection, and how to implement storytelling in age-appropriate ways across subject areas.
Seasonal Teaching
Learn how Indigenous knowledge is deeply tied to the land and the seasons. Explore practical ways to align classroom learning with seasonal rhythms, helping students build awareness and connection to the natural world around them.
Expert Team
Jennie Town
Indigenous Education Lead · PM, Redbird Circle Inc.
Jennie’s maternal heritage is Mi’kmaq and Black, with roots in the Shubenacadie and Bear River reserves in Nova Scotia. As Project Manager of Indigenous Land-Based Education at Redbird Circle Inc., she brings over 45 years of experience supporting Indigenous children, youth, and families. She creates land-based and creative learning experiences grounded in mindfulness and Indigenous ways of knowing, and is committed to supporting educators in decolonizing learning spaces.
Ritu Jhaveri
Program Lead · CEO, Deschool
From crafting exciting STEM programs for students and staff, to teaming up with top-notch experts, Ritu shapes the way we learn. With over 12 years as a school administrator, educator, and curriculum specialist across Dubai, Singapore, India, and Canada, she’s a true education explorer. She’s worked with public and independent schools across Ontario to make STEM learning impactful and integrated into the curriculum.
Rebeka Ly
Program Lead · Director of Education, Deschool
Rebeka is a heart-led educator, Toronto District School Board teacher, and Director of Education at Deschool. She holds a Master of Teaching from the University of Toronto, and her conversations with Indigenous educators during that time continue to inform her practice through ongoing reflection and learning. As a co-creator of this course, Rebeka brings the perspective of a settler educator committed to listening, learning, and walking alongside Indigenous voices to support respectful, relationship-based teaching.
Ariella Racco
Community Lead · CEO, CoLab Education
From designing intuitive tech to cultivating thriving educator communities, Ariella makes meaningful collaboration feel effortless. With over a decade teaching in public, independent and international schools across Canada and Spain, she deeply understands what educators need to connect, learn from each other, and never have to reinvent the wheel alone!
Who can participate?
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Educators at any stage of their Indigenous education journey: current or pre-service K-12 educators across Canada (public, independent, private).
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We recommend joining with several staff members per school to build internal capacity and establish shared language.
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Grade-level and department teams have found great success joining our PLCs together for dedicated collaboration time and action plans.
The Opportunity
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3-month Indigenous education progression: personal practice → context integration → peer collaboration leading school change
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Year-round CoLab platform access: ongoing resource sharing and professional networking with educators across Canada
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Expert support: curated content, research, facilitation guides, and coaching with Indigenous education specialists
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Ready-to-use resources: practical, educator-ready materials for immediate school application
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Division-specific workshops: K-3, 4-8, 9-12
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Certificates of completion: valid for professional development hours
Reserve your spot for Spring 2027
Reach out to our team for details on pricing. Group rates and early bird discounts are available.