June 21st marks National Indigenous People’s Day in Canada, as part of Indigenous History Month. Our District shared resources with us and offered YCDSB Community Speaks: an opportunity to learn with Todd Jamienson (artist and knowledge keeper), Kathryn Edgecomb, (indigenous poet), and John Samozie, (Indigenous Drummer and Pipe Carrier). Thanks Lou Paonessa, Shannon Ulgiati, and Rob Cannone for making it happen! The webinar included storytelling, music, and poetry, knowledge sharing, and a Q & A at the end. You can watch it here.
I enjoyed listening and didn’t take active notes until the Q & A. Some of the messages that really resonated with me were:
As a teacher, you need to understand systemic racism so you can replace it with something better. The only thing we’ve got is the future.
We need to do whatever it is we can to show our kids there are other options. Change can only come one student at a time.
–John Samozie
Connection and healing foster humility.
–Todd Jameinson
Our hope is with our youth. It’s their voices that will create change. They are powerful.
–Kathryn Edgecomb
Today is a good day to learn about the land upon which you are living. Pam Agawa invited us to do this when she welcomed our community at our #DigCitTO virtual conference.
Check out a resource to find out where you are from here.
Today is a good day to seek out other voices to learn more about Indigenous people, whether it be by listening to a podcast by a Knowledge keeper on VoicEd Radio, reading an inspiring children’s story or book by an Indigenous author or looking through the hashtag #NationalIndidgenousPeoplesDay to add the voices of FNMI educators to your PLN.
We really have so far to go here in Canada, and recognizing a day but as John Samozie reminds us, the only thing we’ve got is the future, and today is a good day to look towards that future.