Robyn Snelgrove

Speaking our Truth Chapter 3:

Some of the words that really resonated with me were fixing, recognizing, healing, mending,

harmony, cooperation, and remembering. These children’s definitions are so true, and being able to

see their deeper thinking is so incredible. Some of the words that I was able to relate to teaching were

recognizing, and remembering. These are things that we as teachers are responsible for providing to

our classes. It is up to us to recognize the things that happened, and teach it to our students in a way

that they will always remember. It is up to us to create future adults who are educated on the

wrongdoings of the past, who will work to ensure that we can all live in harmony, and help

indigenous people heal the way they need to.

I like how one of the children said it is “like apologizing but in a much bigger manner”. This

is so true, because there is literally nothing that we can do to make up for the injustices that happened

in the past. The only thing we can do is make sure we are educated, and willing to listen to

indigenous stories about the past so that we can help our indigenous neighbours heal. Something I

also notices the students mention quite a bit was creating relationships, which I think is also

incredibly important. The first thing that needs to happen before a relationship can be created is a

mutual understanding. Indigenous people have been forced to learn about European culture since

Columbus set foot on north America, so now it is our turn to learn.

Some of the calls to action that may affect my future classroom are the implementation of

culturally appropriate curricula, fostering language development by allowing indigenous students to

speak their own language, teaching students about reconciliation and what it means for them as

contributing members of society, teaching my class about reconciliation and the history of residential

schools, respecting and educating my class on Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination in

spiritual matters, and ensuring that I am an educated public servant so that I can make my students

educated members of society.