Tag Archives: school

MODULE 3 – ENTRY 2: HAVING MENTORS IN YOUR LIFE, CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE

I just wanted to show with this blog, a change for the better through education, culture and technology, and having mentors like Nelson Bird and Cree Agecoutay, who also had mentors like their mom, grandmother and teachers, all help pave the way for the next generations to come.

This site, celebrates Creeson Agecoutay, a news anchor on CTV, who was raised by a single mother on Cowessess First Nations. Creeson Agecoutay has attained his goal of working in journalism at CTV. This particular individual exemplifies how positive role models and providing a strong educational foundation can lead you to any goal and path you want to take. “Education was a big thing in our home. That was the rule. If you’re in Mom or Grandma’s house, you have to go to school every day. So after we got home from school, our time together would be at the dinner table while CTV News was on.” This quote by Creeson ties in culture, family, generations, education, tradition, and technology and reminded me so much of how my mom spoke to her students when she was teaching.

Nelson Bird, left, and Creeson Agecoutay are shown on the Indigenous Circle set.
PHOTO BY PHOTO COURTESY NELSON BIRD

Ironically, I researched a little further to see that Creeson began his television journey on another show called “Indigenous Circle,” which gives a weekly in-depth look at news and issues facing the First Nation and Metis population of Saskatchewan, and it is hosted by award winning journalist Nelson Bird, who happens to be one of Creesons lifelong mentors. He was born on the Peepeekisis First Nation and graduated from the University of Regina / First Nations University with a degree in Journalism and Indigenous Studies. He started in 1995 as a video journalist, became a producer, and then anchor person. His job allows him to tell the stories of Aboriginal people from across Canada and beyond. Another part of his work, which he loves, is to train young aboriginal people and encourage them to be the best they can. He conducts motivational speeches at schools and universities.

Nelson Bird’s Mission Statement:

Our mission is to foster, in a holistic way, greater understanding between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal people as to traditional values,

current issues and future directions of First Nations and Metis communities.

Reference:

Bell Media. (2021). Indigenous Circle on CTV News Regina. [Site]. Retrieved June 16, 2021, from https://regina.ctvnews.ca/more/indigenous-circle

Vanstone, R. (August 6, 2020). Creeson Agecoutay savours his ‘dream job’ with CTV. [Site]. Retrieved June 16, 2021, from https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/creeson-agecoutay-savours-his-dream-job-with-ctv

MODULE 3 – ENTRY 1: The Indigenization of an Elementary School through Horticulture

This link, https://www.vsb.bc.ca/schools/grandview/Teaching-and-Learning/Programs/Pages/Community-Garden.aspx, shows a continuation of my final assignment. It is related to some of my previous blogs in Module 1. I am focusing on how the Indigenization of educational institutions are beginning to exist and make positive differences. The ?Uuqinak’uuh/Grandview Community Garden project was created to improve the quality of life for the children in our neighbourhood. “It functions as a living laboratory and a model of an urban ecological school yard. This is a multi-generational place for children and people of all ages in the community to learn to live more sustainably in the urban environment.” Ultimately, their mission is to continue to create a healthier, positive neighbourhood environment to improve the community as a whole, which in turn will significantly influence the educational, socio-economical, emotional, psychological and economical well-being of the Indigenous peoples.

This link, https://thinkeatgreen.ca/2012/06/27/grandviewuuqinakuuh-elementary-sets-a-high-benchmark/, shows how to nurture the next generation of young gardeners, while sharing stories of historical nature in regards to land, people and community. It ironically, is where I grew up and how I see the massive amounts of beautiful transformations of the land and the people that live, grow, learn and teach there.

This link, https://www.cityfarmer.org/grandview.html , shows how the local Grandview Community Schoolyard project has converted an underused school field to improve the quality of life for children and other community members in an inner city neighbourhood. It literally is a living laboratory of an urban ecological school yard. This has become a multi-generational place for children and people of all ages in the community to learn to live more sustainably in the urban environment. Ultimately, the mission here was to create a more healthy, positive neighbourhood environment and improve the livability of the community as a whole.

Public Domain photo by Royalty-Free Photo

References:

Abangsund. (June 27, 2012). Grandview/¿uuqinak’uuh Elementary sets a high benchmark. [Site]. Retrieved June 17, 2021, https://thinkeatgreen.ca/2012/06/27/grandviewuuqinakuuh-elementary-sets-a-high-benchmark/

Grandview/?Uuqinak’uuh Elementary School, VSB. (March 5, 2019). Teaching and Learning-Community Garden. [Site]. Retrieved June 17, 2021, https://www.vsb.bc.ca/schools/grandview/Teaching-and Learning/Programs/Pages/Community-Garden.aspx

Penner, Tracy and City Farmer, Canada’s Office of Urban Agriculture. (January 25, 2000). Grandview U’uqinak’uuh Community School Yard. [Site]. Retrieved June 17, 2021, http://www.cityfarmer.org/grandview.html

MODULE 1-Entry 1: My Very First Visit to a Local Community Garden!

Please click on the following link;Grandview/¿uuqinak uuh Community Garden and select Google images to view the various pictures. Here you will get a glimpse of what my mother started back in 1979! My mom taught me about respecting Mother Earth and all it’s children, young and old. She was an educator at the small neighbouring school Grandview Terrace Daycare, which was a preschool in an innercity area, for well over 40 years. She noticed many of her students, ages 2-5 were mal-nutritioned, and the food that was available in her school did not meet the requirements for a proper and nutritious diet for any growing child. So around the time I was 2 years old, my mom began to do what she does best, she started to grow a little community garden in a little patch of soil just behind the school. She would take me to work with her and spend time teaching, working on the garden and taking care of me. She used this garden, that bore so many fruits and vegetables, to feed the children and give the remaining to the students whose families were in need. Her name is Sneh (which means love in our culture), and she has fed so many little tummies, and filled so many hearts and she is my mentor and hero! —-,—‘-(@

She is still teaching many around our neighbourhood how to garden to this day! Sneh is a teacher, friend, colleague, gardner, landscaper, protector, and most of all advocate for all the children, from various backgrounds, the majority being of Indigenous decent. Back in the 70’s and 80’s, community gardens were non-existent, just like government funding and proper food programs for those in need. Without getting too much into my very first blog, I just wanted to give everyone a chance to see what one person can do, and what it can lead to over time.

I added some links below for you to see and read about the ¿UUQINAK’UUH community garden and elementary school, wow has it grown!!!

Grandview Grows!

https://www.vsb.bc.ca/schools/grandview/Teaching-and-Learning/Programs/Pages/Community-Garden.aspx

http://www.cityfarmer.org/grandview.html

Grandview/¿uuqinak’uuh Elementary sets a high benchmark