Showered by golden larch needles like confetti for a special celebration, thirty-three educators from across the Basin gathered in the field. Fully present to learn, share, and connect. Participating in CBEEN’s Inquiring Voices Gathering for Educators, these passionate people brought their full hearts to Blue Lake Camp, located less than 30 km from the source of the Columbia River on the homelands of the Ktunaxa and Secwépemc people.

Alfred Joseph, local Ktunaxa elder and former Nasukin (Chief) of the ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation, started off the event by sharing some of his perspectives on teaching. For example, how it’s important to remember that each learner will develop at their own pace. To bring patience, compassion, and understanding to the teaching table.

During one of the Open Spaces sessions, when participants split into smaller groups to discuss hot topics that were brought forth, the group readily identified barriers that makes supporting students in that way harder. For a moment, it did not bode well. Are the challenges going to prevent quality environmental education from happening in the Basin?

No way! Instead of despair, the educators drew inspiration from one another. Sharing ideas of how to overcome these obvious obstacles brought them closer together, as if caught by the strong threads of a spider’s web.

The Open Spaces addressed the participants’ burning questions on a number of topics, including:

• Indigenous Ways of Knowing
• Systems Thinking
• Place-responsive Pedagogy
• Climate Change and Stories of Hope
• Community Buy-in and Engagement
• Outdoor Teaching

The discussions took them from climate anxiety to hopeful action. Taking small steps to reach the goals. Developing routines and creating partnerships.

Through sharing 5-minute snippets from their teaching practices of games, activities, songs, movements, and reflections, the possibilities of helping students learn organically and outside of the classroom walls became tangible. By reaching out to the broader community. By building relationships with parents, trustees, peer-educators, community organizations, local government and businesses, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, admin, and the local media. By being true to yourself. And by knowing that one is not alone; all the other Inquiring Voices attendees have your back. And CBEEN as a larger network supports this ongoing work of thousands of educators.

Seven of the attendees received recognition with this year’s CBEEN Awards of Excellence as part of an evening celebration. CBEEN Director and Indigenous Advisor, Faye O’Neil, presented Elder Alfred Joseph as well as Ktunaxa language and culture advocate Bonnie Harvey from ʔaq’am First Nation community with their awards. Longtime CBEEN Chair and Executive Director of Columbia Outdoor School and Blue Lake Camp Todd Herbert presented Jill Jennings, Madeleine Arsenault, Jodi Eskelin, Rosalind Chalmers, and Shonna Murphy with their well-deserved awards. Everyone was left feeling not only inspired by these incredible leaders in our community of educators but also deeply touched by their acceptance speeches. Read more…

The Inquiring Voices event format which includes living in community for several days and nights, allows for developing deep connections among participants. Participants led early risers in mellow yoga, a brisk walk, a morning paddle, or a refreshing dip in Blue Lake. Taking the group photo turned into an entertaining team building activity as the objective shifted from getting everyone close together for the picture to ensuring that the dock didn’t sink under the collective weight. When the stars came out at night, the crackling campfire became the gathering place for sharing songs, stories, musical instruments, and bannock.

Upon departure, participants summed up their time, describing themselves as feeling “nourished, connected, bucket-filled, pumped, refreshed, and grateful.” With their accounta-buddies to check-in with over time, each educator will implement fresh plans upon their return at their workplaces across the Basin.

A huge thanks to:

• Elders Alfred Joseph and Juanita Eugene for their presence and sharing
• Event Coordinator and CBEEN member, Sanne van der Ros, and her hosting team including Mia King, Erika Momeyer and Monica Nissen
• Columbia Outdoor School’s Blue Lake Camp staff for the perfect venue for this gathering
• CBEEN’s Outdoor Learning Store for providing the financial support for this event

For more information on this event go to: https://cbeen.ca/gathering

To become a CBEEN member go to: https://cbeen.ca/join-cbeen