Facilitating and easing barriers to indigenous learning opportunities, while Introducing culture, holding ceremony and promoting indigenous ways of being to students to assist them in navigating life’s path. I view this as a healing experience- I was raised outside of my Metis culture. As such I feel I have a disconnect from my culture and so as I help kids to learn ways of being and participating in two-eyed seeing I am helping myself heal from inter generational trauma. I am aware of the privilege that I have gained through my skin tone and how colorism is prevalent in our own communities as well as from the outside settler communities- my primary goal is to help overcome this specific issue through kindness.

Contract role with indigenous education department, leave coverage. I thought I would try this type of role to see if the college was the space for me- during my time here I strengthened my network of connections and made some friends!

Determining if proposed timber harvesting activities aligned with band, chief and council and other stakeholders visions for their traditional territory. This role was cut short due to the closure of the Canfor Pulp Mill in Mackenzie, BC. Although my time here was short it gave me exposure to working for a First Nations and gave me an awareness of the nuances that accompany that. During my this time I completed an Indigenous Lead Referrals training course led by Coyote Rock Consulting which was very informative.

As the district check cruiser for the Mackenzie district I oversaw the statistical evaluation of ~60 million cubic meters of timber/year. Ensuring that data was statistically accurate requires trust and relationships between the cruiser, the submissions company and the district cruiser. I was able to establish these relationships through joint field audits, enquiries into practices, engagement in continuing education, demonstrating competency with basic field practices and having a fun and safety oriented attitude.

During this 8 year stretch I worked in several facets of the silviculture industry. I have for for ministry as a checker, I have performed multiple functions for planting companies and I have performed free to free and pathogenic focused silviculture surveys. Come collection and seedling/nursery audits are also items I have dealt with. I enjoyed my time in silviculture- I learned so many skills, relationship building, personal management, safety standards, policy and legislation interpretation, contract negotiations, contract modifications, stakeholder engagement and more.