It is crazy to think that it was 18 months ago when my Terrace adventures began. Looking back now, I am absolutely astonished. I have changed so much as a student, educator, and individual. This entire journey shifted my perspective on almost everything I thought I knew, especially the type of educator I wanted to become. After looking back at my first blog post about my first term up North, it is shocking how much this small town changed my life in such a short amount of time. I started this program knowing no one, and now I am fortunate to have completed this program with 19 other amazing people I am lucky enough to call my friends. Not only did we complete a Bachelor of Education program together, but we shared stories, memories, and different outlooks, which only helped bond us more. From listening to each other’s Capstone presentations to our two road trip adventures to Prince George, I found another family in Terrace. Without this group of people, I would not have truly enjoyed this experience the way I did. Everyone in my cohort taught me something new about myself and our world. It has been such a pleasure sharing this journey with them.
A significant contributing factor in my decision to move to Terrace was to immerse myself in Indigenous culture and knowledge to educate myself to teach my students better authentically. This program allowed me to do that. Through coursework and opportunities in my practicum, I am confident that I fostered a better understanding of Standard nine. Standard nine is aimed toward educators fostering a deeper understanding and ways of knowing of Indigenous, Metis, and Inuit culture. I know I am not an expert or will never be one, but I have learned the best ways to access authentic Indigenous knowledge to teach my students best. The First Peoples Principals of Learning explain that learning requires patience and time, and I know this is just the starting point of my Indigenous education journey.
