Just keep learing.....

As a non-Aboriginal person working with the Aboriginal Literacy and Essential Skills project my learning curve has been huge and with each day I will strive to learn more.  I don’t think I will ever know enough.  In 2010 the Environis Institute published a paper entitled “UrbanAboriginal People Study, Background and Summary of Main Findings”.  Although I may not agree with all of the content in the paper the one quote which rings true for me is, “Many NA urban Canadians give Canadians schools a failing grade when it comes to educating the population at large about Aboriginal history, culture and experience.”  I cannot speak to the schools of today.   I can only address my education.  Even after completing high school and attending college and university there is a huge void in my knowledge of this country’s history and the First Nations people.   There are so many things I need to learn.  The list is endless:  history, traditions, colonization, the Indian Act, residential schools, the treaty process, the Sixties Scoop, a holistic approach to education, and cultural safety.  Increasing my knowledge in all of these areas, accepting the wisdom and guidance of my colleagues and respectfully listening to the stories I hear won’t fill the void; however, it will reduce the enormity of it.  Just keep learning…