Partnership leads to sharing of Aboriginal, western views of water

New elementary school curriculum, policy and a documentary are the result of a three-year partnership between Alberta Innovates – Energy and Environment Solutions and the Native Counselling Services of Alberta. The Sacred Relationship project, which focused on Aboriginal perspectives on water, features a documentary film, grade five and six educational curriculum, and research that provides a policy framework for rebuilding relationships. The project was guided by a circle of Cree Elders and led by a team of Aboriginal and western scientists. Dr. Patti LaBoucane-Benson, the project’s principal investigator, developed a model to represent an interconnected worldview that demonstrates the importance of building and repairing relationships. The Sacred Relationship brings Aboriginal worldview into the classrooms of grade five and six students across Canada through lesson plans based on series of 15 educational videos, which feature perspectives on water from Aboriginal Elders, leaders and western Scientists.