Perhaps one of the most exciting things in university is exploring new fields and domains that otherwise may have been overlooked. Upon the start of any course, I am most excited about being exposed to things I have never thought about. With every new course here at UBC, students’ are given additional tools in their toolbox to enrich their understanding of their environment so that they can better analyze the world.
ENGL 372 is an exciting opportunity to learn about things I hadn’t had the opportunity to think about much before. For me, being an immigrant to Canada means a new exciting opportunity which involves learning about Canadian culture and history — that is, learning of the stories of the Indigenous and European folks that came well before us. It is important to learn and understand the stories and values of those who founded Canada. To do that, we listen to their stories, as their stories have a very powerful effect:
Indigenous storytelling is a way to instill a knowledge of the mind, body, and soul in connection to the earth through experienced and trusted “knowledge keepers.” In many Indigenous cultures, storytellers must be trained, apprenticed, and given the right to share knowledge through these stories.
I think it’s very important to learn about the traditions and culture of the Indigenous peoples whom have lived in Canada for a very long time. I find that in media whenever Indigenous history is mentioned, it is primarily in a negative context. Of course, it is very important to speak about all things, but in my experience, the media primarily speaks about the mistreatment of Indigenous folks in Canadian history. I believe it is equally as important to learn about Indigenous stories — and that is done by exploring their literature and orature.
Works Cited
“History and Future of the Book 2018.” History and Future of the Book 2018 RSS. N.p., n.d. Web.
“Our History.” Gourlay’s Clinic Pharmacy, https://www.gourlayscanmore.com/?page_id=133
“Residential Schools – A Chronology.” Assembly of First Nations – Residential Schools A Chronology. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2020.