SHARED LEARNING
With OIYPP, we are interested in constantly learning from and with all our participants, and ensuring that the process of learning is embedded in all we do. Just as important, we want to share learnings with and between all OIYPP participants, and to the wider OIYPP network, so that there is broader and better support for Indigenous youth in Ontario and beyond. This is part of our shared commitment to reconciliation and the Philanthropic Community’s Declaration of Action.
As such, we feel the need to acknowledge that “evaluation” is used to facilitate learnings, but that the word and the way it is often done, has contributed to an inequitable relationship between philanthropy and Indigenous youth. We want to unpack that, and define “evaluation” for OIYPP in a way that is meaningful to all our participants.
First, let’s call what we are doing “shared learning”. We want to emphasize that through our relationships we are committed to listening, providing and receiving honest and constructive feedback, making space for everyone, and working together in translating our learnings into action. This has less to do with “evaluating” ourselves and others against anyone, or one-way knowledge transfer, and more to do with sharing our experiences and stories, and reflecting on what we are doing well and how we can collectively do better based on what we have learned.
We are guided by the OCAP principles (ownership, control, access, possession), which help us honour the knowledge and time that OIYPP participants contribute to our collective shared learning. It’s our intention to honour these principles as best we can in all our learning activities. Practically, this means that we will:
accurately capturing the intentions of the participants who are sharing with us
We hope this language and intention towards OIYPP’s shared learning goals, helps to make our mutual learning more accessible and relevant to all our participants. For us, this is an iterative process that we want to do reciprocally, inviting all participants to engage with us.
As such, we feel the need to acknowledge that “evaluation” is used to facilitate learnings, but that the word and the way it is often done, has contributed to an inequitable relationship between philanthropy and Indigenous youth. We want to unpack that, and define “evaluation” for OIYPP in a way that is meaningful to all our participants.
First, let’s call what we are doing “shared learning”. We want to emphasize that through our relationships we are committed to listening, providing and receiving honest and constructive feedback, making space for everyone, and working together in translating our learnings into action. This has less to do with “evaluating” ourselves and others against anyone, or one-way knowledge transfer, and more to do with sharing our experiences and stories, and reflecting on what we are doing well and how we can collectively do better based on what we have learned.
We are guided by the OCAP principles (ownership, control, access, possession), which help us honour the knowledge and time that OIYPP participants contribute to our collective shared learning. It’s our intention to honour these principles as best we can in all our learning activities. Practically, this means that we will:
- Always share back the information that we collect, to the people that provide insights and
accurately capturing the intentions of the participants who are sharing with us
- Seek input and guidance on how the shared information is used in any material that we put
- Give transparent access to information, for those sharing with us
- Provide copies of the information that is shared, so that those who share information with us,
- Honour the efforts and time that people take to share learnings with us
We hope this language and intention towards OIYPP’s shared learning goals, helps to make our mutual learning more accessible and relevant to all our participants. For us, this is an iterative process that we want to do reciprocally, inviting all participants to engage with us.
We recognize that:
- Our work occurs on the traditional territories of the Anishinawbe, Haudenosaunee, Mushkegowuk and the Lenape peoples, and that these lands are being utilized to live, practice and exercise our culture and ceremonies today;
- There exists Métis and Inuit communities across Ontario (Ottawa is now home to the largest Inuit community outside of the far north);
- When the term community is utilized it represents the broadest term - Indigenous communities exist in remote, school, reserve, rural and urban settings;
- There is tremendous diversity in Indigenous communities, including but not limited to traditional knowledge, culture, spiritual traditions, youth and Elders;
- OIYPP will endeavor to utilize our networks to provide mentorship and other training opportunities for Indigenous youth as they journey with us; and
- OIYPP will endeavor to bring the concept of reconciliation to all we do, understanding this process could be uncomfortable and recognizing that it is in support of developing a strong partnership.