b'GUIDING THE JOURNEYA BEACON OF HOPEBy Kelly ParkerAward-winning Indigenous educator Marika Schalla aims to create positive learning experiences that honour a childs spiritA s an Indigenous womanSchalla is a Curriculum DeveloperFor Schalla, the process of reconcili-and award-winningand Education Consultantation requires not only that sensi-educator, Marika Schallaswith Heartberry Education, antivity be built into the curriculum, life revolves around nurturing theinitiative she founded to helpbut that the focus be squarely on brilliance within every child andindividuals, schools, institutionsthe beautiful cultural history of ensuring that their voice is heard.and organizations across CanadaIndigenous people in Canada. Some Guided by her unwavering belieffacilitate Indigenous education. Sheof the more disturbing aspects in the principle that every childsubscribes to a holistic Indigenousof Indigenous history need to be matters in both her personal andcurriculum that transcendsintroduced slowly, when the child teaching philosophies, Schalla, aacademics and encompasses allis older, following a foundation of mother of two, is quickly becomingfour of their beings. We have topositive learning. a beacon of hope for all of theensure that were also taking care children in her life. of our childs physical, emotionalIf youre teaching younger kids like and spiritual needs as well, K to Grade 4, we have to ensure Every single child that we meet,she stresses.that we are honouring the childs that comes into our classroom,innocence before curriculum, in our learning spaces, and inEmphasizing Maslow over BloomSchalla explains. Little kids dont our community, they matter,(Abraham Maslows hierarchyneed to know the horrors until Schalla says when asked about herof needs over Benjamin Bloomstheyre older. Theyre going to be teaching philosophy. We haveeducational learning objectives),learning about residential schools to remember how important thisSchalla focuses on making sureevery year in their education little being is in our room. Underthe kids are fed, theyve had sleep,journey, so when theyre little, we the Mamhtawisiwin (educational)water, and some kind of mentalneed to focus on Indigenous bril-Framework, every child is born withrest before we even begin learning.liance. Why are Indigenous people a wonder, every child has a gift, andMy personal philosophy insideamazing? We should start from the we need to honour our childrenand outside the classroom is reallybasic foundation that Indigenous as the sacred beings they are, andabout making sure Im honouringpeople are not victims first, that ensure that as teachers, we arethat child that comes into mythere is an amazing history there creating learning experiences forspace. As a mom, thats how of beauty and culture and diversity. them that honour them and thatI would want people to treat myThen as they get older, they can honour their spirit. own kids.learn more about the trauma and 20indspiration2023'