Vahn gwinzii!
K-12 Teaching in the Yukon:
I came to the Yukon in 2009 to collaborate with the Vuntut Gwitchin Government and Chief Zzeh Gittlit School in re-developing their spring culture camp programming as part of my graduate studies. Later moving to Old Crow, I worked together with Elders, citizens and VGG staff to establish the first high school program using cultural and land-based learning and cooperative workplace training. I later taught Grades 4-5-6 focusing on developing community-learning experiences – experiences such as a week skidooing out to Crow Flats to establish a winter camp at -45’C while working on English, math, science and physical education learning objectives while co-teaching with an Elder. I have spent the past 15 years problematizing my settler bias, focusing on unlearning and re-learning to work for First Nation educational goals.
Lands programs and YNTEP at YukonU:
I joined Yukon College in 2018 as the Land-based Programs Coordinator to collaborate with Yukon First Nations to co-teach community and land-based English and science courses, as well as develop Indigenous Guardian and Northern Outdoor Leadership training certificates. I am new to the Yukon Native Teacher Education Program, joining the team in April 2023. I am currently working on my doctoral research together with Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation on how they’d like to move forward under the First Nation School Board.
Educational Background:
Bachelor of Arts (Mount Allison University)
Bachelor of Education (Queen’s University)
Masters of Environmental Studies (Dalhousie University)
In progress Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Simon Fraser University)