b'STUDENT STORIESWhat were the most significantMentorship is fundamentally important for challenges you faced as a student?everyone, not just students, to learn I remember growing up learningand be successful in whatever you from adults, teachers, and other students around me to have achoose to do in life. Learning general lack of empathy for and understanding of Indigenousfrom others experiences, peoples. Unfortunately, like manyfailures and successes helps communities, Prince Albert strug-gles with disproportionate socialus to navigate this complex challenges in the Indigenous population, which inevitably leadsand challenging worldpeople to resent and discriminate against Indigenous peoples. ItGrady Coutuwasnt until university when myHSBC Canadaperspectives changed that I truly started embracing my identity as a Mtis person. needed more help and support5. Tell us about an educator who than I did.had a major impact during your Did you always feel supported bytime at school.educators throughout your time4. How did this change duringI had one teacher in high school, in elementary and high school? post-secondary? Mr. Thunderchild, who chose to go Yes, I always felt supported byAs I learned more about off-script and teach us about the educators in elementary and highIndigenous history and culture,true history of Indigenous peoples school, which I would attribute toI started to change my attitudein Canada. Although it wasnt in my participation in school sports,towards Indigenous peoples. Ithe curriculum, he explained the strong grades, and my parentstried taking more Indigenous elec- Indian Act, Treaties, Mtis Peoples, involvement in my schooling.tives and joined a student group,residential schools, and more. He However, that wasnt the sameEnactus, which offered programs/ went through many challenges and for other friends and classmatesprojects that supported financialendured discrimination growing around me whose parentsliteracy, health and wellbeing for werent around as often, hadIndigenous peoples and communi- up in Saskatchewan in order to less access to sports, and whoseties. Like everyone, I am still onbe a high school teacher in Prince grades werent as strong. Theirthe educational journey to learnAlbert and was able to share those teachers werent as supportive.from our history so I can influenceexperiences with us. We were And I think those students maybechange around me.deeply saddened at the news 2021indspiration21'