9. Educators respect and value the history of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis in Canada and the Impact of the past on the present and future. Educators contribute towards truth, reconciliation, and healing. Educators foster a deeper understanding of ways of knowing and being, histories, and cultures of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis.
Embodying standard 9 was something I entered practicum a bit nervous about. It is such a necessary standard that can benefit Canada and Canada’s education system, which felt like a big challenge to take on. Seeking to meet this standard led me to some incredible connections and opened my eyes to the importance of relationships beyond student-teacher-family.
I was extremely lucky to be placed at Pinewood for my 50% practicum where the Indigenous Education Worker became a friendly face and was someone I always felt comfortable turning to when I was uncertain in any area of my teaching practice. Collaborating with him to run lessons with my Kindergarten class on the 7 sacred teachings and seeing how invested the students were in their learning was extremely heart-warming.