Educators respect and value the history of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis in Canada and the impact of the past on present and future. Educators contribute to truth, reconciliation and healing. Educators foster a deeper understanding of ways of knowing and being, histories and cultures of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis in Canada.
During my grade one practicum I had several students of First Nation descent and it was important to me that I represent their culture in our classroom as equally important as the cultures of the other students in my classroom. Additionally, as we live and work on the unceeded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh people I made sure to recognize their ways of knowing and being as well. From greeting the students in Carrier, the local indigenous language of the area, to using traditional stories from the people of the area when learning about the animals and environment surrounding us, to sharing the traditional dances of the Git’xsan people (with permission), and exposing the students to past and current examples of indigenous art, both visual, auditory and kinesthetic. In all these ways I made sure to honour the culture and ways of knowing and being of these people in the best way I knew how and to ensure that the students understood the significance and importance of doing so as well.