Educators respect and value the history of First Nations, Inuit and Metis in Canada and the impact of the past on the present and the future. Educators contribute towards truth, reconciliation and healing.  Educators foster a deeper understanding of ways of knowing and being, histories and cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Metis.

Photo Credit: Vancouver International Children’s Festival

This program has opened my eyes and perspective to so much more with regards to Indigenous ways of knowing and truth and reconciliation. I am so thankful to have had the great opportunity to drum with the UHNBC drummers last semester, and meet those who have been impacted in our local community. I felt honoured to meet Wesley Mitchell, the leader of the UHNBC drummers, in person.  His presence and aura was so warm and welcoming, it was hard not to put yourself in others shoes during the drumming sessions.  Standing with fellow classmates, community members and hospital staff of UHNBC, gave me all the feels that evening, allowing myself to fully be present and take in the beautiful impact this ritual has on our local community and the patients staying at the hospital. Their music was healing for everyone around them, and I felt very honoured to have been a part of it.  

Between this experience, taking part in orange shirt day during practicum and the many amazing courses offered in this program, my wealth and compassion towards Indigenous history has greatly impacted my own beliefs and how I conduct myself as a teacher and human being.  I honestly wish everyone had the access to all of the education that I have been taught over the past few months in this program so that we could all better understand and foster deeper connections towards truth and reconciliation.  Since the start of this program, I have found that I am now purposefully embedding Indigenous content and theory behind many of my lessons, looking for storybooks being told through an Indigenous lens, researching ways of incorporating Indigenous arts into many literacy and numeracy lessons and finding creative and innovative ways to embrace the First Peoples Principles of Learning into my future classroom’s culture.  As a professional, I will continue to embark upon my own personal journey with knowing and understanding our local Indigenous groups, making sure to represent their culture accurately and with permission. Once I have my own classroom, I hope to build and foster relationships with fellow educators in the district who can guide me in the right direction when it comes to educating and collaborating with Indigenous ways of knowing. Again, I am so thankful to have been given the chance to educate myself and now those around me with what I have learned with regards to this important part of Canadian history so far.