My [Teacher] Union Heart

As a Coast Salish War Canoe puller, teacher, and union leader, I believe in collective strength.  Whether in seat #1 or the skipper seat, success comes from pulling together.  Since 2002, I’ve served public education in many roles: classroom and non-enrolling teacher, BCTF facilitator, curriculum writer, AEA PSA member-at-large, Indigenous Chair for Mission Teachers’ Executive Committee, and Member-at-Large for BCTF’s Executive Committee.

My work is shaped by witnessing both strength and strain in the education system.  Class size erosion, loss of specialist roles, teacher burnout, and ongoing racism that impact our schools.  Indigenous education, in particular, faces barriers like misinformation, misunderstanding, appropriation, identity fraud, and even refusal (Servatius v. Alberni School District No. 70, 2020 BCSC 424).

Yet I remain hopeful.  The BCTF continues to lead on social justice, UNDRIP, TRC Calls to Action, and equity work.  For example, my husband, another First Nations teacher & union leader, during a key round of collective agreement negotiations, was instrumental in advocating for and securing language that grants five days of cultural leave for Indigenous teachers in BC.

Dr. Graham Smith once asked, “Where are your blisters?” alluding to weighing action over theory.  My hands are already blistered, and I’m not done pulling yet.

Collection of pictures on the theme of “What I’ve Been Up To”

What I have been up to (most recent 1st)

I have dedicated over two decades to Indigenous education & leadership, consistently integrating cultural knowledge into school curricula and community initiatives

• Collaborated with teachers, principals, and teacher assistants to co-create the Máthxwi Curriculum, grounded in community voices, with a tentative release scheduled for September 2025.

• Co-authored the Project of Heart Canoe (POHC) e-book, published in September 2024.

• Recent work with the Stó:lō Sitel Curriculum with Dr. Joanne Archibald, Coqualeetza Cultural Education Centre, and the Vancouver Foundation. See “Stó:lō Sxwōxwiyám Stories: Mr Bear and Baby” lesson & PowerPoint in my Sxwōxwiyám FOLDER.

• Served as Co-President of the Mission Teacher Librarian Association (MTLA) in 2023.

• Published the book The Secret Pocket in Spring 2023 and la poche secrète in Spring 2025

• Participated in the Native American art exhibition A Weaver’s Choice – Coast Salish Wool Weavings, curated by Selena Kearney, which honoured my & (posthumously) my Mother’s Salish Weavings (November–December 2022).

• Developed the SOGI 123 Salish Weaving Project (see below picture “SOGI 123 Weaving in progress”) which created safe and inclusive spaces for 2SLGBTQQIA+ and Indigenous Peoples within K-12 education. This initiative challenged colonial narratives and aligned with the BC Curriculum’s Social Awareness and Responsibility core competency. The project has been shared through multiple professional venues, including the BCTF Provincial Conference (2019) and Indigenous Graduate Student Symposium at UBC & SFU (2019).

• Served as Member at Large (Indigenous) on the BCTF Executive Committee from 2020 to 2022.

• Appointed Adjunct Professor and Advisory Chair for the Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NITEP) 2021-present.

• Held the position of Indigenous Chair on the Mission Teachers’ Union (MTU) Executive Committee (2019–2024), including Secretary Treasurer (2023/2024).

• Initiated The Secret Pocket project in SD75 Mission, centering Indigenous resiliency and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action (2020–present).

• BCTF Facilitator, 2018-2020

• National Indispire Awards:  Innovative Educator Nov 2019

• UBC M. Ed. Indigenous Knowledges/Indigenous Pedagogies (IKIP) 2014

• awarded by Abbotsford Community Services: Annual Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards Innovative Initiative: Honouring Our Teachers Ceremony SD34 Abbotsford Aboriginal Department March 2012

(For a full list of presentations, projects, awards and published works, please see CV pdf link pending)