According to the seven Ojibway teachings, the wolf represents humbleness and humility. I believe that these two traits are vital during reconciliation. We have to come to terms with the wrong that has been done and work toward healing. To do this, we have to unlearn what we’ve been taught, and learn the actual truth that has been hidden from us for so long.
In the individual letters of “HUMILITY,” I have incorporated some words like education, support, truth, unity, equity, and strength which are all important aspects to use on our journey towards reconciliation. These are not all, but just a few, of the important words that have I come across. To speak on some, education is important as it is in the hands of teachers to educate the students about what wrong has been committed in the past and teach some of the steps towards reconciliation to the students. Support, love, and understanding are important as we must offer each other these to create unity amongst each other and strength within. Lastly, I used restoration and reparation to acknowledge that we can’t leave the Indigenous peoples fighting for themselves and their culture that has nearly been ripped away for them; we as a society have to help to restore and repair what damage and consequences that has been left behind. Some of these may, and should, include clean drinking water, protection for missing and murdered Indigenous women and children, and proper education within the Indigenous communities.
Snipet from my Journey Towards Reconciliation Paper:
Moving forward, I have been fulfilled with many different steps I can take in and out of the classroom towards reconciliation. I think that it is important to start every day, in or out of the classroom, with a land acknowledgement to recognize where we are and how we got here; whose land we are standing on. To involve the students, they can take turns doing the land acknowledgement everyday and/or before they present a presentation. I also think that bringing in elders and guest speakers to teach is a really great way for students, and myself, to learn more about the Indigenous ways of life and knowledge as they are so humble and wise. Although I am still learning each and every day how I can be a better advocate and support for Indigenous peoples, I am on my way. I am on my way towards reconciliation and I am on my way to help others get there too. Education is what got us into this mess, and it is education that is going to get us out.