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Teaching is about building community and becoming part of a larger purpose.
I've created this page to showcase some of the ways I've contributed to and become part of the two communities where I've taught.
I started rescuing stray, unwanted, and injured dogs in 2017, shortly after arriving to Sayisi Dene First Nation. I continue this work today in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation with the Nelson House Animal Rescue. In both communities, dog rescue presented me with opportunities to meet and interact with community members and my students' families outside of the school. (This is an important aspect of teaching in a First Nation commnity.) I've always found a way to share my love for animals with my students, often by having them join me with rescue efforts.
Animal Rescue (2017-Present)
Food Sustainability Project (2018-2019)
In 2018, I applied for a grant from Canadian Feed the Children for food sustainability projects in Sayisi Dene First Nation. The Nation received $75,000 over three years to be used for food sustainability initiatives, which I managed until I left the community in late 2019. The images to the left are from an indoor garden I started in the basement of my teacherage.
The images below are from vermicomposting projects I did with my grades 1/2/3 class in Sayisi Dene First Nation and with my grade 4 class in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation.
Indigo Love of Reading Grant (2020-Present)
In February 2020, I applied for the Indigo Love of Reading grant. The Nisichawayasi Nehetho Culture and Education Authority received $80,000 over the course of three years for the purchase of new books for the students and school, which I've managed with support from administration. With the cash portion of the grant, the Literacy Committee purchased a book vending machine (pictured below) for the students and community. The video to the right was part of my application for the grant. Please note that release forms were signed for the students featured in this presentation.
In January 2022, I was gifted a star blanket by the education authority for my work on the literacy grant.
Photography (2006-Present)
I began studying film photography in 2006 during my undergraduate education in Maine. In 2012, upon moving to New Brunswick, I began collaborating with a group of photographers who taught me about digital photography, lighting, editing, and retouching images.
In both Sayisi Dene First Nation and Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, I was able to share my passion for photography with the communities by photographing concerts, graduations and special events, and grad. portraits. This semester, I'm teaching a high school photography course.
Jim Cuddy in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, 2021
Moody X 2 in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, 2021
Trooper in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, 2022
During the two worst years of Covid, when photography companies weren't able to come into Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, I photographed all the grade 12 graduates so they would still have grad. portraits. These are images of my makeshift studio setups in classrooms.
Miscellaneous Community and Extracurricular Involvement
A drum-making workshop in Sayisi Dene First Nation, 2018.
When you live in an isolated northern community, your colleagues become your best friends. Teacher thanksgiving (2017) and an evening berry-picking excursion (2017).
On the last day of school before Christmas Break (2018), I organized a sledding party for the Sayisi Dene First Nation community. We filled the school bus with students and their families, built a fire, cooked hotdogs, and made hot cocoa.
Shortly after arriving to Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, I started a cross-country ski program for the elementary school. In February 2020, we attended the Spirit North ski festival in Winnipeg.
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