ASSAI After School Program – School District #73 in Kamloops, BC

I am currently working as an ASSAI After School Program Leader for District #73 here in Kamloops. I am doing both visual art and movement programs for grades 3-12. My role is to plan and facilitate these programs with the youth. I have had the opportunity to work at two different schools within the district and get to know a variety of youth. Throughout my time participating as leader for these programs, I have learned the importance of visual arts and physical education within the lives of the youth. I can’t wait to see where this employment as a leader takes me next.

Substitute Teacher – Chief Jimmy Bruno School in Bechoko, NWT

Since 2020, I have been working every chance I get as a Substitute Teacher at Chief Jimmy Bruno School in Behchoko, NWT. Anytime I go home for an extended period of time I work as a full time substitute teacher at the community school. I have had some amazing opportunities working with CJBS such as engaging in their on the land culture camps, teaching experiences, lesson planning, coaching, building relationships and working alongside local Elders. This is ultimately where my passion for teaching began.

This is the kindergarten class blowing bubbles on the first day of “Spring” in the North.
This is the elder showing the students at their muskrat camp how to clean it off traditionally to prepare for food.
This is a picture of me at Muskrat camp with my class.
The kindergartens scraping hides with the Elder Celine Whane as part of their culture program.

Government of the Northwest Territories – Sport Recreation and Youth

In 2019 and 2020, I worked for the Government of the Northwest Territories in the Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) Sport Rec & Youth Department. My job alongside one other person was to plan and lead free sport camps across a variety of small remote communities in the Northwest Territories. The sport camps were to introduce the fundamental movement skills and different sports to the youth at risk. This job required me to create daily, weekly and monthly plans, to communicate with community leaders, to think on the spot, to work in small remote communities that don’t always have the equipment we need, to build healthy relationships, be a positive role model, promote sports and healthy lifestyles and to have fun. This job gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to these beautiful small remote communities across the Territories and to meet a variety of youth. I also got the chance to partake in a variety of community events and activities and see some amazing hidden gems that I didn’t even know existed. This was a great learning experience for me.

This is a picture of me and the youth I worked with in Tulita, NWT
This is my colleague and I right after we swam in the Arctic Ocean
This is a picture of me looking back at the midnight sun on my drive back home from one of the camps

Emergency Respite Work – NWT Foster Care Coalition

In 2020, I worked as an Emergency Respite worker for the NWT Foster Care Coalition. This job gave me the opportunity to work with youth of a variety of ages within the foster care system. Although this job was tough at times, it was an amazing learning experience for me.

White Water Raft Guide at OWL Rafting

In 2021, I spent my summer as a White Water Raft Guide on the Ottawa river. This job required me to think on the spot, respond to emergencies, entertain, push my comfort zone and most importantly have fun. I learned so many great leadership qualities at this job that I will use in my teaching practice. This job also taught me the importance of having more than one plan and to be okay if it doesn’t go exactly as planned and to think on the spot. I loved this job and all of the amazing friends I made along the way.

Each one of these opportunities that I have had the privilege to work with youth of all different abilities and ages has challenged me as a person and as a leader. These amazing opportunities are the reason I love working with youth and chose to pursue the Bachelor of Education program at Thompson Rivers University, in Kamloops BC. I chose to pursue my education at this university because there are only a few Universities in Canada that incorporate an Indigenous cohort in their Bachelor of Education program. In the Indigenous Cohort, I get the opportunity to learn alongside other Indigenous students and more specifically from Indigenous professor. This is important to me as an Indigenous student and a future teacher.

I am grateful for all of these employment opportunities and I am excited to put both my education, experiences and love for sports to be a positive role model, mentor, friend and most importantly teacher to my future students.