Course Outline

Description: This course supports the in-person experiences we have planned this year for the designated HAWI Leads in each of the Collaborative Circle schools. Our intention is for you to gain a deep understanding of Haudenosaunee history, governance, and culture, along with practical tools to integrate these perspectives into Waldorf curricula, lead collaborative efforts, foster reconciliation, and promote systemic change through ethical leadership and actionable plans.

The course has 10 modules with 3 lessons in each module. You will connect, share, and collaborate using documents and folders in Google Drive.

Pre-Course Lesson: TRC Calls to Action

Deepen understanding of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action, evaluate the progress of their implementation, and reflect on how schools can actively contribute to reconciliation through meaningful initiatives and resources.

Module 1: The Creation Story – Curriculum Scope & Sequence

Develop a coherent, developmentally appropriate K–12 scope and sequence for teaching the Haudenosaunee Creation Story, emphasizing storytelling beyond the central Creation narrative and aligning with Waldorf child development and curriculum considerations.

Module 2: The Thanksgiving Address – A Framework for Gratitude

Examine the Thanksgiving Address as a foundational practice of gratitude and mindfulness.

Module 3: Kakhwa’onwe (Original Foods) – Sustaining Life and Identity

Explore the central role of traditional foods in sustaining Haudenosaunee identity, health, and relationships.

Module 4: Foundations of Haudenosaunee Knowledge and Governance

Establish a foundational understanding of Haudenosaunee leadership, governance, and conflict resolution.

Module 5: Wampum Belts – Memory, Responsibility, and Ethical Leadership

Discover the complexity and significance of historical relationships through wampum belts.

Module 6: Land and Treaties – Historical Contexts of Sovereignty

Explore the historical relationship between Haudenosaunee nations and colonial governments, with a focus on treaties and land displacement.

Module 7: The Indian Act and Residential Schools – Legacies of Disruption

Examine the impact of the Indian Act and residential school system on Haudenosaunee communities.

Module 8: Building Relationships – Schools as Partners in Reconciliation

Gain tools to foster respectful and reciprocal relationships with Haudenosaunee communities.

Module 9: Curriculum Integration – Bringing Themes to Life

Develop skills to meaningfully integrate Haudenosaunee perspectives into Waldorf school curricula.

Module 10: Leadership for Change – Visioning the Future

Become an agent of change in your school.