Our class was lucky enough to be joined by Dr. Jessie King for a guest lecture informing Indigeneity, positionality, and Ethical spaces in Academia. Dr. King is a professor in the First Nations studies at UNBC. Dr. King’s talk with our group left me feeling like I had just been given a wealth of insights and knowledge to bring into my practice as a future educator. The stories shared and advice that was given was in-valuable in my opinion. While there were many things said that stuck with me I want to share a few that have left me with a lasting internal feeling to just be better and be more aware. The first thing Dr. King said was that the first gift you can give a person is the gift of who you are. Just sit with that for a moment… in silence… and digest it fully… the first gift you can give a person is who you are. Realizing your power in a conversation or in a group and having that awareness in conversation was given large emphasis. It is important because no matter who you are and whether you want it or not everyone has a certain power and or privilege in a conversation and in a space. I say this because I think it relates back to the idea of yourself being the first gift you can give someone. Who is the person that you want to give people, what impression what gift of yourself do you want to leave with someone. Its all interconnected and it is an Indigenous practice that we are starting to bring into the education space especially and I love it! I love this way of thinking and being and it has genuinely sparked a new awareness in myself with how I am and how I interact in a space with the power and privilege I may have. Another thing Dr. King said which stuck with me was that she can remember that in her entire high school career the only time she ever learned about her culture was for 30 minutes. The reason this story impacted me was because this is what stuck with her… it is sad, and it makes you realize how big an impact you can have on a student. People remember the good and the not so good, we will never all be perfect all the time as teachers/educators, but we can surly make everyone in the room feel seen. If all I do as a teacher is provide a safe classroom where my students feel comfortable enough being who they are and expressing their culture and beliefs then I will feel success, I would be happy and I think all the learning will flow once that sense of safety is established.
