b'RECONCILIATIONhim to consider my community. Ifand do them real justice in thein? And to do it in such a way that his students had similar negativeclassroom. There are only sothey can nurture what is hopefully visions of First Nations communitiesmany hours in a school day. Ia natural human conditionthat of based on limited to no real-lifewould suggest that the majoritybeing genuinely curious, contempla-experiences in those communities,of teachers want to do a good job;tive, and perhaps concerned in an how could they be reconciled withthey want to do the right thing,empathetic way about other people the reality?presenting factual and currentand the lives they live.information to their students to There are valid reasons to exploremake the world a better place.I hope that what you take away how and why there is cheap gas,However, that simple thoughtfrom this brief article is that in spite why there are so many smokeexperiment that Dan and I justof your fears, lack of time or knowl-shacks, and why there are sowent through was a 90-minuteedge acquisition, you muster the many more pot shops per capitadiscussion. And it could have gonecourage to take a chance to contact in First Nations communities thanon longer! We didnt even checka local Native Friendship Centre and anywhere else. Also, why areGoogle or Wikipedia or any otherseek a way to find an Indigenous those things negative? We rarelyfar more rigorous and importantElder or Knowledge Keeper who hear about too many 7-11 typesources. We were just trying tocan visit your school regularly to convenience stores or too manyhash out the possibilities of atell a story and answer questions. unhealthy fast-food places indeep and meaningful truth andOn behalf of my brothers, sisters non-Indigenous communities asreconciliation conversation thatand cousins across Turtle Island, I a stereotype. Instead, one couldcould and should be happeninginvite you to go to a pow wow in the suggest that those folks whobetween an Indigenous personsummer where positive Indigenous run these places in First Nationswho might be a teacher and a non- sounds, smells and images will be communities are very entre- Indigenous person who might alsoengrained in your consciousness. preneurial and are contributingbe a teacher. We want you there! Similarly, I to economic prosperity in theirencourage you to check out an community. Or perhaps they areSTAYING CURIOUS Indigenous author, movie, TV show, conscientious caregivers who wantWe eventually came to the conclu- music, play, artist or National Film to work from home? sion that, as I mentioned earlier,Board creation. I hope that perhaps, like myself,everyone has limited capacities,And if youve taken these initiatives youve been wondering how thelimited time, and differentalready, nia:wen, please keep typically good, actively engaged,competing issues that determinesourcing those Indigenous ideas socially aware teacher is supposedtheir priority level throughoutand content. It is going to be a long to promote the TRCs findingsthe day, year, month or subjectwalk in our moccasins and mukluks, unit. I think the biggest and mostbut Im really hoping you are willing important thing to come out of theto take that walk with us sooner, conversation was that we actuallyrather than later. had the conversation. And we didnt chat on National IndigenousWe are not asking you to do it all, Day (June 21), which coincidesor even all at once. We are asking with the summer solstice. Nor didthat you continue to be a curious we have it anytime near Orangeand lifelong learnerjust like you Shirt Day in September. It was justare encouraging your students a rainy cold day in March when weto be. had some time to connect with each other in an interesting andSupport is available for anyone meaningful way. We had piquedaffected by their experience at each others curiosity somehow.residential schools or by the latest reports. A national Indian Isnt that how teachers are meantResidential School Crisis Line has to be so they can pass those attri- been set up to provide support for butes along to their students? Toformer students and those affected. be curious, to be lifelong learners,People can access emotional and to want to have a better under- crisis referral services by calling standing of the world that they andthe 24-hour national crisis line: their students live and participate1-866-925-4419.64indspiration2022'