Prepare a page for the final paper
I would like to provide you, the reader, some background information about the motives I have behind taking this course as it relates and may provide insight to the big idea project that I am investigating.
I have always heard about land acknolwedgements that were done at various events, speeches and conferences at UBC. Yet, I never knew why they did it. I understood that it had to do with the individnoues communities and recognizing the troubles they had gone through, but I only associated their pains with the residential school systems. Because many other people valued this and it was something that kept reoccurring throughout the years, I decided that it must be important to understand and that it is important to allocate my time to these issues.
Fast forwarding a few weeks into class, I became more aware of the distinction between settlers and Indigenous populations as well as all the other challenges that Indigenous communities have and are facing. I also became curious to learn about how to engage with a different community who has dealt and are dealing with a lot of challenges. At first, I wanted to learn specific ways to engage with Indigenoous communities to help and support them in their challenges. I wanted to hear what these were from people in the community themselves. However, after talking to my professor Daniel Justice about this topic, he said that it would be better to discuss principles of engagement rather than specific ways to engage. The reasoning behind that is because every community and every individual may have different beliefs in how to address challenges, but principles can be broader and can be tools to address various types of challenges.
I have learned several things which I am quite proud of for my big idea. I have learned about various reoccurring principles such as listening and allowing one to grow in different ways. That respect for others and pluralism is important for a vibrant and resilient community that is engaging in these challenges.
I am excited to continue to learn more about princples of engagement through a further investigation of the TRC and through interviews with professors.