Growing up in the North-East quadrant of Calgary has provided me with a unique

perspective of what diversity is, being exposed to peoples from around the world. Over the past

year and a half in the BEd program at the University of Calgary I have realized that most of my

classmates have come from a life of privilege, myself included. I did grow up in a culturally

diverse community, as most of my high school friends were first or second-generation

Canadians, but over the past month I quickly realized how ignorant I was concerning the

historical development of our country. To be completely honest, when I started this semester I

was not very ecstatic to take a course concerning “Indigenous Education.” But now my eyes

have been opened to the injustices that the Indigenous population of Canada have endured.

Realizing the need for education addressing “the history and legacy of residential schools, the

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights,

Indigenous law, and Aboriginal-Crown relations” (Monitoring TRC Calls to Action, 2015).

Furthermore, as educators, we must incorporate “skills-based training related to intercultural

competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism” (Monitoring TRC Calls to

Action, 2015) into our daily practices.

This photograph is symbolic of my emerging awareness of Indigenous issues concerning

oppression and misrepresentation, which was quite superficial at the beginning of this semester.

The iron rock sculpture on 16th avenue is a perfect example of how our society fails to honor our

country’s Indigenous population. “City officials have said they consulted with First Nations

members on the Bowfort Towers piece, which features four stands of steel girders cradling

stones bearing significant geological features, a sculpture meant to depict the four seasons and

circle of life from a Blackfoot perspective, but (ironically) they’ve never identified with whom

they consulted” (Kaufmann, 2017).

 It was shocking to me that residential schools were not abolished until 1996, which

leaves me feeling disgusted as the University of Calgary was founded in 1966. How can people

be so educated but so blind as the same time. In the film “We Were Children” the white people

would refer to the Indigenous peoples as savages, but hypocritically these same people were

literally raping this population both physically and intellectually. Forcing them to relinquish their

culture and language so that they can worship “God Almighty.” The scene that stood out vividly

during our view of We Were Children was when the kids were forced to hold their tongues out as

punishment when they spoke their own language. This opened my eyes to the contradictory

aspect of our homeland, which prides itself on diversity, but was founded on segregation. As

educators we must enlighten the youth of today about “the processes of colonization (and how it

has) either outlawed or suppressed Indigenous knowledge systems, especially language and

culture, and has contributed significantly to the low levels of educational attainment and high

rates of social issues such as suicide, incarceration, unemployment, and family or community”

(Archibald, J., 2010).

I recognize the significant difference between spirituality and religion, whereas

spiritually regards enlightenment but religion requires rules and regulations. You asked us think

about “space and place,” and at the start of this semester my ego affected the state of mind I was

in within our class. About two weeks into the semester you helped me reach an empathetic point

of view regarding Indigenous education issues. Dr. Pratt, you inspired to create a photograph that

is not only unique but meaningful, as this project has taken me out of my science brain comfort

zone, and I thank you for that. I have reached a place of understanding, realizing that the issues

regarding Indigenous youth are not self-inflicted but the result of a century of systematic

oppression
 References

Archibald, J. (2010). Accord on Indigenous Education. Retrieved on October 15, 2017, from

https://www.trentu.ca/education/sites/trentu.ca.education/files/ACDE%20Accord%20on

%20Indigenous%20Education.pdf

Monitoring TRC Calls to Action. (2015). Retrieved on October 15, 2017, from

http://nctr.ca/calltoactionsummary.php#justice

Kaufmann, B (2017). C i t y council or cal ls for removal of cont enti ous art work as
ci t y offi ci al s huddl e t o fi nd soluti on . Retrieved on October 15, 2017,
fromhttp://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/city-councilor-calls-for-removal-of-
contentious-artwork-as-city-officials-huddle-to-find-solution