As a student, I have always taken part in the Journey Towards Truth and Reconciliation. It has been a continued process that never stops. Second semester of my first year, I was on a deeper journey that brought me a new perspective, new experiences, profound sadness, truth. I say I have always been on the journey, but I never truly understood what that meant until I started doing more research and took the time to listen to Elders. I took part in Orange Shirt Day every year, but never knew what it truly meant until I took the time to dive deeper this year. As a future teacher, I think it is so important that we educate ourselves and have a better understanding before we can teach anyone else about it. My journey this semester really started with Joseph, a Tradition Knowledge Keeper, and his sharing. I have had presentations from many Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers, but there was something about Joseph’s presentations that really caused me to look at what I know, what I want to know, and what I can do to make sure I am as educated as possibly can be. Through Joseph’s stories and singing I was inspired to do more research and take action, and one of the things I did was a virtual field trip to the Treaty 4 site. I was able to read through so many important resources and stories that have changed my view and perspective. I was able to read through things with a different lens, which allowed me to get the best possible experience out of it. While doing my virtual tour, I came across and read a teacher resource called “nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up – Learning Guide.” Not only is this an amazing resource to use to help teach Indigenous History, but it is also a great tool for teachers and educators to go through themselves. I went through it, and I learned so much and saw things in truth. All too often we only hear one side of a story, we come to our own conclusions, and we don’t actually listen to what others have to say. In this teaching guide, I learned about Colten Boushie, how he died, and the system racism and injustices his family faced. I did not know a whole lot about this story until I actually read the teaching guide, which is very sad and unfortunate. Hearing this story had encouraged me to take time each day to read more about the anti-indigenous racism that goes on in our world, read more about the residential school stories that survivors have shared, and to just simply better educate myself. I am able to recognize that I haven’t done a good job at making an effort to learn, listen or advocate in the past, but right now is a better time than never. Through the “We Will Stand Up” teaching guide, I was inspired to look at the calls to Action and go through the Government of Canada’s response to Truth and Reconciliation.

While going through the Government’s response to Truth and Reconciliation, Action 62 profoundly resonated with me. This specific Action states the following: that, through K-12, Indigenous history and knowledge will be implemented, there will be proper funding for post- secondary schooling which will allow a deeper understanding of the Indigenous culture and learn how to methodize the knowledge so it can be taught properly to students, and senior-level positions in government that will be dedicated to implementing Indigenous history and content within the country’s education. These acts right here will greatly impact how and what educators teach students. Indigenous history and education has always been a high priority for me, and this act shows me just how important it is and how crucial it is to the education curriculum. Reading through all the actions has left me with the sense that it is my responsibility to reflect, learn, and appreciate Indigenous peoples for all that they are. I will do this in ways I have done before, and ways I haven’t done before. By doing this, I am always continuing on the journey to reconciliation. This is not only for the better of myself, a person of white privilege, but for the better of my students. I need to educate, learn and reflect within myself before I can take the steps and opportunities to teach others. I am continually on my learning journey, and with the help of other educators, Knowledge Keepers, Elders, and Indigenous peoples I am becoming a better understanding person with eyes wide open and a heart welcome to all. It is my job to continue to educate myself, advocate for others, listen to others, and help others along their healing journey. Everyone has a story to tell, and you never know how that story may affect you and your everyday life and actions. Take the time to listen and take part in as many Truth and Reconciliation things you can. Every time you hear someone speak, you hear different things and phrases that may stick with you. One thing I learned through hearing and truly listening to someone speak is that our Truth and Reconciliation Journey is never ending, and it is our job to make sure it continues on for generations to come.

In my class’s conversation with Joseph, he said “It’s your turn,” and to me this means it is our turn to reconcile, and our turn to make a change. We are educators of the future generations. I took the phrase “it’s your turn” and switched it as if I were saying it to an Indigenous person. It’s your turn for: justice, truth, support, trust, healing, respect, advocacy, protection, peace, a new way, and change. They deserve the same freedom, healing, and truth as we do. I am able to recognize the White Privilege I have, and it is our job to advocate for and make sure Indigenous people have the same opportunities and support as us. As a future educator, it is so important to educate ourselves and be those advocates. We are constantly advocating for other things, but if we switch the lens and view maybe we can be advocating for more or different things.

Joseph’s song, “We Are All One People,” deeply touched me as well. I have always believed we are all one and connected, but the way Joseph sang it really hit my heart. Just like I am human and you are human, all Indigenous People are human as well. In Joseph’s song, he sings, “We are all one nation under one great sky, you and I. We are all one people, we are all one colour in her eyes, we are all one colour if we try.” That specific part in the song really resonates with me and will stick with me for the rest of my life. It shouldn’t matter what colour your skin is or what you practice. We are all one people in the eyes of the creator, and we can be all one people in our eyes and the eyes of others. My journey towards Truth and Reconciliation has been inspired by Joseph, his songs, his knowledge and his wisdom. I have learned so much already, and I look forward to continuing my journey to reconciliation and taking my students on the journey with me.

Works Cited:

Government of Canada; Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. (2019, September 05). Education for reconciliation. https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/ 1524504501233/1557513602139

Naytowhow, J. (2021). Joseph Naytowhow. https://josephnaytowhow.com/

Tootoosis, J, McLean S. “Nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up – Learning Guide.” National Film Board of Canada, 25 Apr. 2019. http://www3.nfb.ca/sg2/NFB-We-Will-Stand-Up- EN.pdf