b'TRADES EDUCATIONMost educators will tell you SUCCESS that learning is a lifelong is built in process. This is certainly the case for Liddicoat, who feels he has learned enormously from his close engagement with the Indigenous communities of Northern Ontario. The real learning started for me the day I took the job at DFC, Liddicoat says. There was so much that I didnt know from my colonial upbringing. Im always learning from other staff, my peers, the Elders and, most importantly, the students.Liddicoat has also experi-enced firsthand the chal-lenges faced by Indigenous students and their communities. He believes that this shared experience, withWhen asked for his top recommen-its ups and downs, has forged adations for other non-Indigenous strong bond. educators seeking to support their We have a very close relationshipIndigenous students, Liddicoat as a staff, he says. Were a familyoffers the following: Always be and have dealtand dealwith aopen to learning with and from lot of trauma and pain together. Idyour students, be genuine, and get like to think Ive learned with myto know your studentsinvolve colleagues. We all support andthem in their learning. respect each other and honourLiddicoat also believes that the and share our gifts that we bringkey to establishing successful With a wide variety ofto the student experience. educational partnerships between programs for you to chooseLiddicoat says that while he under- Indigenous and non-Indigenous from, cultural supports tostands that its not the job of hiseducators is to stay focused help you feel at home, andIndigenous friends and colleagueson providing the best possible work-integrated learning toto educate him, this educationexperiences and outcomes for has happened anyway. He looksthe students. At the same time, get you career-ready, youllforward to continuing to givehe says its vital to make use of find everything you need atvoices, skills and opportunities toevery opportunity to educate the Brandon University. the students while improving bestgeneral public, and to ensure that practices for educators. the educators themselves keep He also emphasizes that buildinglearning. Join us at strong, mutually respectfulFor Liddicoat, the experience has partnerships that contribute tomade an indelible mark on his life BrandonU.ca and career: This has been a life-the good of the community is a core Indigenous value and some- changing opportunity for me. If you thing that he and his colleaguesare willing to share your gifts, build continue to work toward. Hebrighter futures, and volunteer believes that this kind of healthyto help where you can, theres partnership can serve as a modela lot to learn. But the rewards for others in the future. are amazing. 38indspiration2021'