Why is it important for me to mention realities? 

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We come from a people who believe in more than what we see. 

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As an "Indigenous" person, as a Squamish person, as a Saanich person, as a Scewpmec person, as a Cowichan person - I come from more than the secular world of law abiding citizenship. I come from more than the school system I am required to complete.  I come from more than the continued education system that will get me recognized in society. I come from more than one belief system. I come from many things and I do not let society define me because I know who I am and where I come from. 

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I come from a lineage of many ancestors who lived on our homelands from time immemorial. I come from a community who helped take care of me. I come from a family who helped raise me.  I come from a group of friends who I consider family.  I come from the land we live on.  I come from the language we speak.  I come from a strong mother. I come from language speaking grandparents.  I come from energy. I come from spiritual ways of being. 

 

I identify with all of these things I come from. When I enter schools, or rooms I bring those things with me, whether they are acknowledged or not, they are there with me and I know this.  ​

Life is larger than who I am as a human being. Growing up I could not express these thoughts but I knew without having to say that life was more than school. I quickly realized that I come from 2 different worlds or 2 different realities.  The reality of my life as I know it and the reality of becoming a law abiding citizen making it in this economic world. 

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Public education systems have shifted into inclusive education but it’s not.  Public curriculum has included Indigenous education as topics of learning but it will get 1 or 2 classes. If you wonder why some of our Indigenous kids do not engage in your classroom, it is probably because you don’t hounour them as you hounour other students in you classroom.  Students of all ages are very astute in knowing if they are being treated differently.

 

Leave personal biases at the front door of the school and remember your teaching ethics. When we become educators we all agree to exercise our teaching ethics. 

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