Weaving our Work Together – Supporting First Nations, Métis and Inuit Children and Youth and the Responsibility of Educators

Abstract

Within the past year, I have been humbled to learn from Dr. Nicholas Ng-A-Fook and Ph.D. Candidate Lisa Howell within the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa in our collaborative partnership with the Indigenous-led non-profit organization, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (Caring Society). We are developing Spirit Bear’s Virtual School as a communicational support network to engage with educators across Turtle Island. In our shared work, we address youth rights and respond to the inequities in Canada’s welfare and education systems that continue to harm First Nations, Métis, and Inuit youth. From the research, we have newly developed is The Spirit Bear Beary Caring Curriculum for Reconciliation which is embedded in the Touchstones of Hope Principles, Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, Sovereignty, Rights, and Responsible Citizenship. Further, we are guiding teachers (inside and outside contexts of public schooling) to educate their classes about the truth of Canada, discrimination, racism, justice, and reconciliation-based practices through the Caring Society’s resources and campaigns.