b'GUIDING THE JOURNEYI always want to make sure that when Im teaching or working with peers who are learning and wanting to do things better or with more respect, that Im constantly trying to bring in Indigenous worldviews.Charlene Smoke, GTJ Award Recipientthat affected my grandmother,Can you share a bit about yourI always want to make sure that and in turn my father, and in turnown personal paradigms orwhen Im teaching or working with meand I just kept going. I went tophilosophies that you use bothpeers who are learning and wanting University of British Columbia, gotinside and outside the classroom? to do things better or with more a bachelors degree in IndigenousYou cant really separate the two.respect, that Im constantly trying to studies, and then I worked for anWe work in a colonial setting wherebring in Indigenous worldviews and organization called First Nationspeople walk through life separatedhelp students and peers understand Education Steering Committee. as soon as you walk in the door,that were not all the same, which is While there, I was just doingyou leave your personal life behind.a very difficult job. Im focusing on administrative work, trying to figureBut its really hard to leave behind,the three Rsrespect, reciprocity out what I wanted to do with myand relational accountabilitylife after I graduated. I realizedas an Indigenous person, youralways holding people accountable.really quickly that almost all thebiases, personal experiences, the peers, educators and leaders werehistory, everything that comes withI also help others understand that non-Indigenous, but they werewho we are, especially in todayseverybody, no matter where you working for Indigenous organiza- climate. With my maturity, overcome from, has teachings and a tions and working in First Nationstime, Im seeing that Im not able tostory. Theres a lot of professional schools and communities. I saw thatseparate the two.development out there nowmany there was this big gap and a lack of Indigenous educators.Also, I recalled that when I was a little girl, [I would put] together astmcollege.ca little desk and a little imaginary class-room, which is not an uncommon thing for teachers. I was always drawn to that environment and that connection with others. I decided to go back to school, and now I have a masters degree in educational leadership, which was also a result of peers helping me, saying, You can do this. We need more people at this level. A welcoming liberal arts college on the USask campus in Saskatoon. So even though I didnt have aOver 220 STM credit course offerings in 19 subject areas - available to all USask students. stable home or consistent schooling,Indigenous students will find a great deal of transition support and opportunities for I always imagined classrooms wherecommunity building at STM with small class sizes, a welcoming, diverse environment, I wanted every child to feel like theyIndigenous initiatives, supportive faculty, student clubs, social events, belongedbecause I didnt feel likeand additional Indigenous student scholarships and bursaries.I belonged.Contact 306-966-8900/ 1-800-667-2019stmcollege.ca2025indspiration25'