Jennifer Davis
Assistant Professor
Faculty
PhD Faculty of Education, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. December, 2011
Dissertation title: Exploring the Relationship between Stories from the Land and Character Development (Based on First Nations’ teachings on story-telling in the Classroom.)
MA Faculty of Education, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. May, 2000
Thesis title: The essential presence of spirituality in the secular classroom as experienced by six female secondary school teachers.
Research Interests:
- Land Based Education
- Decolonizing Education
- Education of Reconciliation
Biography:
As a Grandmother of 11 and an educator for over 40 years, I have a deep commitment to, and love for, learning that speaks to our whole selves and our connection to each other, all our relations, and the earth. I cannot remember a time when the land did not draw me into relationship, and I have always felt most at peace outside, surrounded by only natural elements.
I inherited a love of gardening and farming from my grandparents. My husband built on that love and taught me to love and feel safe around the bush, rocks and water. But, this inner experience has been deepened and expanded as I have come, through working with First Nations communities, colleagues and Elders, to understand that the land is our first teacher from a First Nations perspective. This understanding has changed my vision for education and the direction in which I believe western pedagogy needs to go if we are to leave our children good gifts and enable them to live well together. I believe it is time to listen to the wisdom of the Elders, and work towards a decolonized education system that moves towards reconciliation, and accepts the pedagogical gifts of traditional teaching.
Morcom, L., Freeman, K., Davis, J., (2017, February). Book Chapter on Indigenous Teacher Education, (in Review)
Davis, J., (2016, July), Land Based Education in the Classroom. Canadian Association of Aboriginal Superintendents (CAAS), Winnipeg, MB.
Davis, J., UCN Pre-Service Teachers (2016, May), Land based Education: This is NOT a Field Trip. CSSE (CASIE), Calgary, AB.
Davis, J., UCN Pre-Service Teachers (2016, May), Land based Education: This is NOT a Field Trip. MFNERC Lighting the Fire Conference, Winnipeg, MB.
Davis, J., UCN Pre-Service Teachers (2016, May) Land based Education: This is NOT a Field Trip. FNMIEAO, Reconciliation through Education, Brampton, ON.
Davis, J., UCN Pre-Service Teachers (2015, May),The Land as Teacher and Classroom. MFNERC Lighting the Fire Conference, Winnipeg, MB.
Davis, J., UCN Pre-Service Teachers (2015, April),The Land as Teacher and Classroom. MERN North Conference, Thompson, MB.
Davis, J., (2015, April) The Need for Alternate Practicum Placements in Teacher Education. MERN North Conference, Thompson, MB.
Davis, J., (2014, November), The Meaning of Kenanow in Education, Indspire Conference, Toronto, ON.
Davis, J., UCN Pre-Service Teachers (2014, May), Teaching from a Land Based Education Perspective. CSSE, Brock University, St. Catherines, ON.
Davis, J., UCN Pre-Service Teachers (2014, May) Enacting Cultural Proficiency in UCN and Brandon University Teacher Education Programs. Lighting the Fire Conference, Winnipeg, MB.
Davis, J., UCN Pre-Service Teachers (2014, April) Enacting Cultural Proficiency in UCN and Brandon University Teacher Education Programs. MERN North Conference, The Pas, MB.
Davis, J., (2014, April) Elders in the Academy. MERN North Conference, The Pas, MB.
Queens University, Faculty of Education
Summer 2015: EDU 870 Theories and Meanings in Aboriginal and Indigenous Education
Summer 2016: EDUC874 Special Topics in Aboriginal Education (Land Based Education) WISE
Fall 2016: EDUC877 Special Needs in an Aboriginal Context WISE
Fall 2016: PME 820 Aboriginal Knowledge in the Classroom
Fall 2016: CONT524 First Nations, Metis, & Inuit Peoples, Part 1
Winter 2017: CONT524 First Nations, Metis, & Inuit Peoples, Part 1
Winter 2017: CONT524 First Nations, Metis, & Inuit Peoples, Part 2
Winter 2017: CONT638 Intermediate Native Studies
Winter 2017: Independent Study Course with WISE Grad. student
Courses taught for UCN in the last 4 years:
- Assessment and Evaluation for pre-service teacher candidates
- English Language Arts Methods
- Reading and Literacy for Middle Years
- Educating Children and Youth
- Teaching Sport & Wellness
- School Relationships
- Contemporary Aboriginal Drama and Poetry
- Action Research in the Classroom (Involving pre-service teacher candidates in VOICE project and various presentations of that research.)
- Professional Seminar & Practicum Supervision
Recently finished writing for Queens:
Continuing Education Department the new OCT approved AQ course: First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Peoples: Understanding Traditional Teachings, Histories, Current Issues, and Cultures, Parts 1, 2, & 3
PME Capstone Course to be offered Summer 2017
Currently writing: New AQ Intermediate Native Studies
Supervision of 5 current WISE Masters students working in areas of Land Based Education and Decolonizing Education