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I am a
Metis and was born and raised in Saskatoon in a single
parent home. My grandmother played a major role in my
life, providing me with encouragement, love and support.
Growing up in our home however, was not easy. There was
plently of alcohol abuse, violence, and we were neglected
 quite
a bit of the time. We were raised on welfare. My escape
was school and I did well in most of my classes though
absenteeism was a major problem. I am a spiritual person
and always believed if I could just survive the first
seventeen years of my life, God would bless me in my
future life. My seventeenth year was rough, and I didn't
know what I would do if I graduated from high school.
Doors seemed closed to me. I was failing my classes, had
moved away from home, and though I was living with my
grandma I felt alone and depressed. Then God stepped in
and through my aunt I found out about the Indian Teacher
Education Program (ITEP). My average was too low for
regular admission and I didn't qualify for adult
admission but the outgoing administrator felt sorry for
me and admitted me anyway! By the time my admission came
into question I had one of the highest averages in my
class and continued to be successful over the next three
years. ITEP changed my life and gave me a strong
understanding of my culture and a strong desire to reach
out to Aboriginal children. I was immediately hired by
the Saskatoon Board of Education and am currently a Grade
Eight teacher at Lakeridge School, having also taught at
Caswell, Westmount, Fairhaven, and Alvin Buckwold schools.
I also spent a year on exchange to England, where I
taught at a middle school in Wimbeldon. This is my 22nd
year working with the Saskatoon Board of Education and
one of my on going goals has been to strengthen pride and
confidence in the abilities of First Nation and Metis
children. Over the years I have been involved with many
committees that have worked for the improvement of Indian/Metis
education. I was a treasurer, president and past
president of AWASIS, a Special Subject Council with the
Sask. Teachers Federation. I have been a member of the
Indian/Metis Education Commitee with the Saskatoon Board
of Education for about 15 years and its chairperson for
the last three years. I am an advocate for the
incorporation of Indian and Metis content in the
curriculum and have provided numerous workshops around
the province on this topic. I also provide workshops in
association with Sask. Professional Development Unit,
through the S.T.F., promoting the Diversity in the
Classroom series, focusing on the "Aboriginal
Cultures and Perspectives" document. I am proud of
the increasing number of Aboriginal students who are
successfully completing their education, overcoming
various adversities and following their dreams to become
positive role models for the next generation. Poundmaker
once said, "We cannot be like the man who sat beside
the trail too long and it grew up and he couldn't find
his way. We cannot go back nor can we just sit beside the
trail." These words inspire me to move from my past,
to set goals and to work hard to achieve them. I hope
they inspire you too. Ekosi.Links: (click on X in top right corner of outside link to return to photo gallery) Indian Teacher Education Program Aboriginal, Northern and Cross-Cultural Education - Teacher Mentors: Teachers in Conversations.Teacher Mentors: Teachers in Conversation - Cort Dogniez, Lynn Fraser, Theresa Mudrik, Ann Tracey, Leo Yahyahkeekoot, Angela Ward, Linda Wason-Ellam, and Karla Jessen WilliamsonSaskatchewan Education - Acknowledgements |
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