Discussion
Re: Aboriginal leadership and its responsibility to the environment
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Traditional teachings are of extreme value and I agree with Dr. Rice on this point. I would carry it one step further to state that it is not only traditional teaching but language, culture, songs, dances, ceremonies, customs, etc all need to be retained to help mold the young leaders of tomorrow. I remember asking a teacher once, “Are you an Aboriginal teacher or just a teacher who happens to be Aboriginal?” They asked me, “What’s the difference?” I maintain the Aboriginal teacher is a person who is knowledgeable of their people’s customs, culture, speaks their language, songs, dances, ceremonies, etc and actively participates in these functions and gatherings and uses that knowledge as a basis for the way they teach. A teacher who just happens to be Aboriginal has limited knowledge of who they are and may not participate in their people’s customs, culture, songs, dances, etc or speak their own language. How then can they teach these things to other people when they themselves do not value these things enough to have attempted to learn them. My Elders taught me, when you speak, speak from experience, anything else is just guessing. I believe that by practicing and living according to our people’s customs, and culture and speaking our language, we will learn the teachings that help us to be an upright and good people practicing environmental, political, cultural, and social care that will create and help develop the leaders of tomorrow that we desire.
– Sakoieta’ in Six Nations of Grand River Iroquois Country, Ohswe | February 12th 2010 at 5:25pm | Link
