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For my aesthetic representation I chose to draw three photos, the first is where I started, the second is where I am, and the third is where I hope to go on my journey towards reconciliation.

In this first drawing there is a bouquet of wildflowers, cut from the ground and tied with an orange ribbon. I see this drawing as where my journey towards reconciliation started. I appreciated the beauty of nature wherever I went but disrespected it by taking the beauty away from the space for my own pleasure. The orange ribbon shows my limited understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing because I had tied the ribbon to show my knowledge, but my true oblivion is shown in the fact that I had cut the flowers from the ground.

My second drawing is again of a wildflower, but instead, this flower remains planted in the ground, uncut by my greed. Within the stems on the plant there are words, these words read “listen, learn, change, heal, and together”. These words represent the significance I now see in learning from different perspectives. I am always the person who chose to talk or explain in any situation, eager to have my voice heard. While I still carry that trait, I now know how important it is to listen and learn from others. I can then take what I have learned and work create change so as a community of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, we can heal together.

My third and final drawing is of a woman and a child holding hands and walking down a path. Along the path there are words written in orange and these words occur both behind and in front of the two holding hands. The words behind the two read “history, understand, truth, community, and trauma”. In front of the two are the words “future, beauty, restoration, and hope”. I envision this as a drawing of me and a future student, walking down the path of reconciliation. The words behind the two holding hands represent how we need to first teach and understand the history, truth, and trauma of the community around us. And, in teaching this to our students we will foster a future that is full of beauty and hope

I am a photographer and through this I often observe on my own space, place, and boundaries, but, only for the purpose of taking a photo. In this activity of picking four photos that reflect on this I started seeing a deeper connection to these photos which I had not experienced before. All of these photos have been taken by me over the past few years and I have not pondered their significance to me until now.

Follow a Path:

This photo is from a hiking trail near Banff, Alberta. This path, may seem lackluster at first, however it leads to a waterfall I would have otherwise missed had I not followed it.

Find a sit-spot

This photograph was also taken at Elbow Falls in Alberta, this rock here, although it may be unsafe, would be my ideal sit-spot to reflect. Every time I go to the mountains I am in awe of their beauty and feel so at peace. So this to me is the perfect sit-spot I could ask for.

Map your emotions

My grandpa grew sunflowers in the lot next to his house, some over 12ft tall. Sadly he and my grandma passed away when I was five years old but now whenever I see sunflowers I feel a sense of joy knowing he is present with me, following my along my journey in becoming a teacher. This photo reminds me of him and ignites that joy.

From a different perspective

As a photographer I often look at things from a different perspective, as a teacher I will need to do the same. The barn in this photo is old with pieces missing or breaking. But, its surroundings add to its beauty and I have brought in those surroundings by making them the forefront of the photo.