So a friend of mine sent me a message telling me that their friend was interested in teaching up north.
I noticed my "Katimavik" Page today and thought- hey, you know, my experience as a teaching in Chisasibi was just as life-changing as Katimavik in many ways, so why don't I have a page on that?
Well here it is...
So I came up north as a 19-year-old, with, obviously no teacher qualifications. I went where I was needed, when I was needed and I learned to be as flexible as possible. It's not what they want or what they're looking for, but that's often what they really need, since they need substitutes so frequently, and often they have no choice but to have unqualified people in classrooms. Unqualified doesn't mean 'unquality' or less quality though. I really think I brought something to the classrooms I was in, even if not 100% academically. I didn't just make paper airplanes of hangman with them every day. I disciplined them when necessary, and I gave them work with reasons for why they were doing it, sometimes how it helps them. Sure I wasn't trained, but I used my brain to think of how they could use theirs. It was mostly common sense, I'd say.
I'm not your average case though. I got the job immediately because I worked here as a volunteer before. And it wasn't easy. I didn't get my own place or benefits either. I was treated mostly as a part time employee I suppose. It's not the money I came for though, or the benefits. It's the people, the experience, the independence.
I'm just warning others though, if you're 19 without any qualifications, you really can't expect you can get a job as a substitute up north with no connections. A lot of people become substitutes because they come up north with their spouses or whatever, but I would suggest getting your qualifications if you're ever going to teach up north, especially with the Cree School Board (they don't make it easy if you don't have your brevet.)
If you want to go up north, I'll give you whatever information you need. I can also give you contact info. if you're in Chisasibi and you want to learn more about the culture (because let me tell you now, if you want to find out about native culture, they're not going to come to you- you have to ask all the questions to the right people yourself. You have to do the digging.)
The native reality if often not all totem polls, sweetgrass, and laughs though. Sure, they use their sense of humour for everything, but every person, of course, has their story, and to tell the truth, there are few youth now, that actually experience the spiritual things you might think of when you hear "native." For most, their reality is hip hop culture and being in a world with much some have difficulty comprehending since language is a great challenge here. Due to residential schools, there was a loss of the parental structure, so the subtle ways of teaching were lost somewhere along the way. Often children are neglected, and left to survive, mostly on their own, with, sometimes, little guidance.
So I have to say, after living here for a short while, I've learned a lot about them, but also about myself. I can understand things a little better (all this will come with experience, I'm sure) and I know how to stand up for myself and others. I've also learned a little lesson on persistence- it's something I need more of.
If you want more concrete information about the cultural reality here or about teaching here, don't hesitate to email me at stacey.speers@gmail.com And let me know if you're headed to Chisasibi or even Wemindji because I know people that will welcome you and I'll try to help you with all the things people don't warn you about. (I'll try to think to answer the questions you might not think to ask!)
So if you're a teacher and you're looking for a challenge, or even just a job with a unique experience- go north!
