Education and Early Childhood Learning

“When you are daring enough to be yourself, it makes others feel safe enough to be themselves too.”

What obstacles did you face and how did you overcome them?
Throughout my childhood, I always knew that I had Métis heritage but didn’t know what that meant for me, my identity, or my family. My great grandparents spoke Michif as their first language, but it was not passed down to my grandmother, mother, or myself. My family experienced a loss of culture. It was a time in history where many Metis people hid their identity and also experienced racism and ostracism. This led me to experience feelings of shame around my Metis roots. The curiosity about my family’s past propelled me to pursue a degree in history focusing primarily on Indigenous history. It was a journey to discover my identity and family’s roots. The more I learned, the more I began to recognize pieces of Indigenous history that applied directly to my experiences and family. I decided then that I needed to do more. I committed myself to recovering my family’s loss of culture and worked to establish Metis pride in my family and others who had also experienced loss of culture. I use my platform as an educator to promote Indigenous resilience, success, and pride.

What or who inspired you to really go after the profession you are in now?
I come from a family of passionate and driven teachers whom I’ve always looked up to. I had always loved school and my teachers had a strong impact on who I am today. I hope to educate, inspire, and create new opportunities for my students in the same way that my teachers were able to do for me.

What critical choices or decisions did you make that helped you get where you are today?
I made the decision to recover my family’s loss of culture and re-establish a sense of Metis pride in my family. I did this through learning the language, talking to my grandparents, attending ceremony, and remaining curious about my roots. I chose to use my experience to encourage others to be proud of their Indigenous roots and to take back their sense of identity.

Message of Encouragement:
It takes courage to live your truth in the face of adversity. Be brave enough to own your roots. When you are daring enough to be yourself, it makes others feel safe enough to be themselves too. I’m proud to say that I come from a family of Indigenous excellence.