b'GUIDING THE JOURNEYimpacts that residential schoolsonly marked a significant milestoneteaching moment. When we had have had. in Schallas life and career, it reallythe award ceremony, I was teaching Armed with her belief in thisreaffirmed to me that I am doingGrades 1 to 2 and my Educational approach, Schalla has created plan- the right thing, that Im on the rightAssistant live-streamed the award ning guides for Grades K through 8 path in my career, that the workceremony, she explains, So my in Winnipeg School Division #1that Im doing is meaningful andstudents got to watch their teacher and consulted on the curriculumthat its needed, she says. win an award. That inspires those for Grades 9 through 12. HerAlong with the affirmation thelittle ones to achieve. They learned work has included the creation ofaward provided that she was onthey can achieve greatness when a 300-page document exploringthe right path, the award ceremonythey grow up, because I grew up the beauty of Pow Wows throughitself offered Schalla anotherjust like them.storytelling. All of that is about reconciliation, teaching in a good way and teaching about Indigenous culture, brilliance and resilience in a positive light, she says. CATALYST FOR CHANGEThis strong focus on the well-being of children stems not only from Schallas own childhood experiences, which involved battles with poverty, but also a desire to be a catalyst for others to have a healthier experience. While crediting the support of her husbandtheyve been together since she was 15she says herBEAHR Indigenous children are her guiding figures.Environmental Although she had always been an honour roll student, she fell behindTraining Programsin her high school years, and when she became pregnant with her first child at a young age, it caused herEnhance environmental employment to take stock of what kind of life sheopportunities within your community. wanted for her son.Customizable, hands-on training inclusive Hes been my guiding figure toof Elders engagement and traditional really push myself, Schalla says,knowledge.even if that means Im writing a couple of 1,000-word papers witheco.ca/beahra 102-degree fever. Im doing the work because its for him, and now its for all the kids that I interact with. Its for all the kids across Turtle Island that this work is so important, and now I have another little one who just turned three. In late 2022, Schalla received Indspires Guiding the Journey Award for Innovative Practice, earning the special distinction for her work Indigenizing the curric-ulum nationally, provincially, and within her school. The accolade not 2023indspiration21'