From There to Here: Part 2

In teacher's college I toyed with the idea of teaching in Northern Ontario. I had helped to facilitate a summer day camp in Sachigo Lake, a First Nations reserve, when I was in middle school which piqued my interest. The early exposure to First Nations culture was very meaningful, but my awareness and concern about social issues among First Nations people was increased as I read , “My Name is Seepeetza” in university. It’s the true story of a young girl’s experience at a residential school. I was astonished to discover the social implications of the residential school system in Canada beginning in the early 19th century and continuing presently. I have spoken to people who have pursued teaching on a reserve and read blogs about experiences in First Nations communities, I even took a course on teaching First Nations People. As I researched and pursued the possibility of a career in Northern Ontario it became increasingly clear that it wasn't the right experience for the time-being.

There are so many worthy pursuits in life. I have discovered that sometimes the challenge becomes deciding which undertaking is right for me, for now. In the end, teaching up North was not right 'for now' simply because it's not where my passion lies at present. However, I would have been remiss if I had jumped into the first worthy opportunity that caught my attention. Each consideration, each choice, becomes significant in the formative process which ultimately defines the journey.

Read about “My Name is Seepeetza” at http://www.readingonline.org/international/clarke/seepeetza.html
For a general historical context take a look at Canadian Indian Residential School System on Wikipedia.