Module 8: Community-based Learning
Centring Indigenous Communities
Indigenous community should be placed at the centre of your work in Indigenous digital literacy. In this work, be respectful and mindful of Indigenous Peoples, protocols, and priorities.
How do we accomplish this?
We learn and we practice the Four R’s of education.
The Four R’s—Respect, Relevance, Reciprocity, Responsibility—were developed by Verna Kirkness and Ray Barnhardt in 2001.
Learner notes
The Fours R’s are reviewed in detail in Module 1: Ethical and Legal Considerations and Module 2: Communication and Collaboration. Please refer to these modules for review. The importance and versatility of the Four R’s cannot be discussed enough in Indigenous Digital Literacy. Review these topics in modules 1 and 2 and take a deeper dive through your research.
Source and recommended reading: Indigenous Ways of Knowing Course Design | Resource Library | Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning | University of Calgary (ucalgary.ca)
Relationship building: Four Rs
Relationship building is a fundamental step in connecting with Indigenous Peoples. Let’s break down these principles for building strong relationships:
- Respect
- Relevance
- Reciprocity
- Responsibility
To guide you, we can turn to the knowledge of Verna J. Kirkness and Ray Barnhardt, who have highlighted the importance of the Four R’s in their article on First Nations and Higher Education: The Four R’s — Respect, Relevance, Reciprocity, Responsibility [PDF]. By adding sincerity and recognizing the continuous effort needed for sustainable relationships, you strengthen the foundation of the 4 R’s, ensuring that your connections are not only respectful, relevant, reciprocal, and responsible but also deeply authentic and long-lasting. This is building trust.
Learner notes