Liitsx (Read)
Books that Inspire, Challenge, and Equip Educators for Meaningful Change
Jo Chrona's writing grows from decades of experience in Indigenous education, offering educators honest, grounded, and actionable guidance for building more equitable and inclusive classrooms.
Her books have earned national recognition for the way they meet educators where they are: acknowledging the complexity of this work, and providing the knowledge, tools, and confidence to move forward with both humility and purpose.
SAG̱AYTG̱AWDI: GROUNDING ASSESSMENT IN INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGES TO SUPPORT EQUITY AND WELL-BEING
(2026) Portage and Main Press
Sag̱aytg̱awdi (a Sm’algyax word meaning “gathering together”) helps educators support equity and well-being in their classroom through practical strategies that ground assessment practices in Indigenous knowledges. Accomplished authors and educators Jo Chrona (Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies) and Brooke Moore (Sorting it Out) provide educators with a conceptual framework to evolve their assessment practices and make more informed, student-responsive decisions.
Sag̱aytg̱awdi is designed to be a practical, engaging resource for teachers of all grade levels. It includes:
-
opportunities for reflection
-
personal and professional narratives
-
guiding principles
-
actionable strategies
-
teacher examples
-
recommendations for additional resources
With this resource, educators will be inspired to use assessment to create more inclusive, supportive environments where all students can achieve and thrive, respecting and celebrating their unique identities and cultures.
WAYI WAH! INDIGENOUS PEDAGOGIES
AN ACT FOR RECONCILIATION AND ANTI-RACIST EDUCATION (2022) PORTAGE AND MAIN PRESS
National Best Seller!
How can Indigenous knowledge systems inform our teaching practices and enhance education? How do we create an education system that embodies an anti-racist approach and equity for all learners?
This powerful and engaging resource is for non-Indigenous educators who want to learn more, are new to these conversations, or want to deepen their learning.
Some educators may approach this work with trepidation. You may feel that you are not equipped to engage in Indigenous education, reconciliation, or anti-racism work. You may be anxious about perpetuating misconceptions or stereotypes, making mistakes, or giving offence. In these chapters, I invite you to take a walk and have a conversation with a good mind and a good heart.
What Readers Are Saying
“If you are feeling uneducated yourself and unsure about how to help your students grapple with the concepts of racism and reconciliation, let this book be your guide to greater understanding and confidence. The chapter headings are an excellent reflection of the scope of the content and will give you an idea of how useful this book is.”
— Diana Mumford, Canadian Teacher Magazine
“This book is a powerful resource for those looking to better understand how to effectively create inclusive learning environments that foster reconciliation and facilitate anti-racist educational practices. It’s also a reminder that reconciliation is not just a buzzword – it’s a process that requires commitment and action from all of us.”
— Iyanuoluwa Akinrinola, ETFO Voice
“Among Quill & Quire's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: A reading list of books published in 2022 that provide a pathway to greater understanding, deeper reflection, and a way forward”.
— Quill & Quire
"Every educator will benefit from Jo Chrona's practical insights and effective strategies for embedding Indigenous learning principles in our schools and systems."
— Linda Kaser, co-author of Leading Through Spirals of Inquiry
“Reading Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies is the next best thing to learning from Jo Chrona in person. She has masterfully drawn on decades of on-the-ground experience and influential work to provide sage advice for educators, leaders, and learners of all ages. The reflection questions posed throughout the book are deep and practical, laying the groundwork for truly meaningful ongoing professional development opportunities. As well, I absolutely LOVE the Taking Action sections at the close of each chapter, which provide necessary calls to action that challenge readers in the best possible way. Jo Chrona writes with humility and an understanding of the complex job of being an educator, leader, and lifelong learner in Canada today. This book is a necessary read for anyone working in the education system. “
— Joe Heslip, Project Lead, BC Ministry of Education and Child Care
“It was an honour to read this book. With immense expertise, humility, and care Jo Chrona has created a path for each of us to examine the personal and systemic racism that is preventing Indigenous learners, their families, and communities from achieving their rightful place and success in the education system. As we work towards reconciliation, the historic and current truths of oppression and injustice against Indigenous peoples must be known, understood, and addressed. Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies examines the truths of education and how they can be dismantled. This is an essential read”.
— Teresa Downs, President, BC School Superintendents Association
With over two decades in Indigenous education, author Jo Chrona encourages readers to acknowledge and challenge assumptions, reflect on their own experiences, and envision a more equitable education system for all. Each chapter includes:
-
Reflection questions to help process the ideas in each chapter
-
Suggestions for taking action in both personal and professional spheres of influence
-
Recommended resources to read, watch, or listen to for further learning
-
Personal reflections and anecdotes from the author on her own learning journey
-
Voices of non-Indigenous educators who share their learning and model how to move into, and sit in, places of unknowing and discomfort, so we can examine our own biases and engage in this work in a good way
Grounded in the First Peoples' Principles of Learning, this comprehensive guide builds on Chrona’s own experiences in British Columbia’s education system to explore how to shape anti-racist and equitable education systems for all. Perfect for reading on your own or with your professional learning community!
AWARDS
-
Short-listed, Manuela Dias Book Design and Illustration Awards, Book Design 2023
ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS
Report: Network of Inquiry and Indigenous Education (NOIIE) Transitions Report, 2024
Dr. Catherine McGregor and Jo Chrona
Article: “Intersections: Indigenous Pedagogies and Assessment For Learning,” Canadian Assessment for Learning Network Newsletter, January 2023 Jo Chrona and Brooke Moore
Poem: “between the borders” In Our Own Aboriginal Voice 2: A Collection of Indigenous Authors and Artists in Canada (2019) Ed. Michael Calvert