Educators respect and value the history of First Nations, Inuit and Métis 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 Métis.

 

Throughout my final practicum I challenged myself to focus on this standard in more intuitive and meaningful ways. I made the First People’s Principles of Learning a key component of how I approached my units, focusing on bringing this knowledge and ways of learning into my classes. I explored oral storytelling in my poetry units, the importance of history and story in Lord of the Flies, and modern issues such as the Wet’suwet’en protests of the pipelines. I worked to include Indigenous materials into my teachings, such as Thomas King’s “Borders” and Gregory Scofield’s “This is an Honour Song for Billy Jack.” It can be too easy for new educators to push this standard to the side and only focus on it as much as is minimally required. I didn’t want to fall into this trap and instead deliberately scheduled formal observations for the classes where I tackled the most complicated and contentious of Indigenous issues. By doing this I was able to receive valuable feedback on my handling of difficult subjects and my approach to teaching the material and ideas within the classroom. These lessons truly became  highlights of my practicum that I can look back on with pride and know I will return to them again in my future career.