“Re-Storying education,” Roberts writes, “is a process of dismantling old narratives to rebuild and re-story new narratives to include historically silenced voices in education.” This compelling guidebook on decolonizing Canada’s educational system draws upon her own personal experiences as an Indigenous person within Canadian classrooms, both as teacher and student–she recalls the low expectations some teachers had of her, and her feelings of not quite belonging in school, all at a time when Indigenous students were dropping out of school at “a much higher rate than all other students.” Roberts has devoted her career to helping students feel they belong, and here she presents the tools and resources designed to “re-story” or decolonize western pedagogies, while creating culturally responsive learning environments that “connect students to the society they live in.”

Roberts begins by revealing some harsh truths about the current state of Canada’s educational system—“built by one of the key designers of the Indian Residential School System”—and the genocidal laws and policies upon which it was founded. “My children are the first children in my family that have not been stolen from their parents by the government,” she notes, before explaining the numerous ways this system, along with others, attempted to eradicate Indigenous people and their way of life. Roberts urges educators to “unlearn the colonial framework of education” to better support the needs of Indigenous students.

From cultural appropriation to racial-spotlighting and hidden biases, Roberts dives into the multitude of factors that create educational disparities in marginalized communities, while providing readers with sample lesson plans, suggested readings and playlists, and thought-provoking questions at the end of every chapter to encourage the deconstruction of deeply rooted Eurocentric mindsets and the cultivation of culturally responsive classrooms. This impassioned guide serves as a call-to-action for administrators and educators to develop a strong critical lens and actively decolonize the classroom. Written in relatable, inclusive language, Roberts encourages readers to reconnect with one another, the land, waterways, and community.

Takeaway: Compelling guide to dismantling outdated pedagogies to better serve Indigenous students.

Comparable Titles: Marie Battiste’s Decolonizing Education, Jo Chrona’s Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies.

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