I’m Curious About..‪.‬ Jacqueline Murray

Jeannine Whitehouse has been a beacon of light for so many. As the Indigenous Education Coordinator for Regina Catholic School Division, Jeannine’s professional portfolio includes supporting and guiding staff and students in 32 schools. This immense responsibility is something Jeannine not only meets head on, but guides with kindness, compassion through significant relationships and action oriented steps. She has been pivotal in facilitating a Michif language program at Sacred Heart Community School, as well as many endeavors that allows teachers to Indigenize their content in an authentic and meaningful way. I am blessed to call Jeannine a mentor, and a friend. Often our conversations start with a need, and end up gravitating towards the deep conversations about our personal and professional goals to empower and educate students in our care and ensure that we are walking the path of inclusion and awareness in all that we say and do. This conversation is one that shows the need for significant relationships of trust and reciprocity when walking the path of truth and reconciliation on a personal and a communal level.

Where do I begin with introducing the incomparable Chauntel Baudu? Chauntel is an ELA teacher for Regina Catholic School division as well as a sessional professor at the University of Regina. She is someone who has walked the walk of anti-oppressive teacher for her entire career in the classroom and in her life. She completed her Master’s Thesis in 2012 entitled Anti-Oppressive Education Through English Language Arts: A Recollecting Journey. Chauntel is someone who seeks out courageous conversations, who pushes her students and colleagues to think critically and reflective and in the process she has the uncanny ability of making people the best versions of themselves. I am proud to call her my friend and this recorded conversation is one of the million that I am privileged to have with her as we navigate our roles as educators and humans.

What a blessing it is to come together with my colleague and friend Rodger Ross. Rodger Ross is the Wisdom Keeper for several schools in Regina Catholic School Division. In my time with Rodger he has been pivotal in my personal and professional journey in recognizing the truth of Canada’s past, while taking steps in my personal and schools reconciliation journey. Through his stories, his teachings and his guidance he has modelled the power of story and community. This conversation was an opportunity to not only learn from Rodger (which I do every time I am in his presence and around his teachings), but also reflects the need for community, for relationship and reciprocity. I believe it is when we take big issues, like Truth and Reconciliation for example, and name the particulars, the nuances, the moments of deep pain that we lay the foundation for meaningful and authentic connections that empowers reflection and action that then affects the community at large. This course has done a wonderful job of naming people, stories and moments where globalization has directly impacted communities and continues to this day. This conversation is an example of how one can unpack the history while deeply connecting to one another and the potential in our futures. I hope you enjoy this conversation as I much as I did in having it.