H O M E C O M M U N I T Y
Adopted to Winnipeg,
birth mother is from
Tikiraqjuaq or Whale Cove,
Nunavut, birth father originally
from New Brunswick.
C U LT U R A L I D E N T I T Y
Inuit, English, Norwegian
C U R R E N T P O S I T I O N
Aboriginal Education Consultant and Support Teacher
Ab. Education (Mar24-09)FINAL.indd 10
3/24/09 3:08:46 PM
Nichola Batzel - Tookoome
E D U C AT I O N / T R A I N I N G
Post-Bachelorette
in Education, Bachelor
of Education Degree
11
R O L E S / R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S
My role as an educator is to support students, teachers and administrators with the integration of Aboriginal
Perspectives. Aboriginal education encompasses the rich traditions and values of the various Aboriginal peoples
throughout Canada. It is a great opportunity to apply concepts and issues to help extend our learning.
With the extensive and rich history that Aboriginal Peoples have, it is both exciting and enlightening to
learn ancient and current teachings and practices.
I enjoy learning about so many Nations across Canada. I enjoy
meeting and working with teachers and students and I am
glad to be a part of a team that brings forth positive, creative
ways of learning for Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal students.
When asked who inspired me to really go after the profession
I am now in I would have to say my parents. I was adopted
and my parents have always been open and encouraged me
to grow and develop my strengths and abilities. Both parents
were educators and they inspire me everyday. I have also met
my birth parents and I am glad they are strong and I am able
to find some answers from knowing them. I grew up away
from my people and there were never any resources for my
family to utilize. I have always been proud of my background,
as my parents taught me to be. Today I work to bring together
more resources so that other Urban Inuit find more support
and so others have an opportunity to learn about the Inuit. I
recognize that the Inuit perspective is not easily accessed as
this is not Inuit territory. I hope to find connections and learn
about resources that pertain to Inuit peoples so that it is more
accessible for people across Canada. I try to connect to both the
Inuit and Non-Inuit sides of my life.
There have been many choices I made on my journey. I think
that when I made or continue to make choices, I seek guidance
from my parents who are my greatest teachers. I thank my
parents for their support and guidance. If you enjoy learning
and helping young ones along their learning journey, teaching
is the career for you. Follow your heart and your dreams. They
will not lead you astray.
As an educator,
Life is an incredible journey. We are all
here to learn. I encourage people to be
open to learning experiences that can
help you on your journey of life. Learning
experiences can take many forms so
listen, look, feel and be aware of these
experiences as they show up. Some of the
greatest lessons can happen in the blink
of an eye. Enjoy life and remember why
we are here. We all have gifts even
if it is hard to find at times. All we have
to do is look in and listen to our heart.
Ab. Education (Mar24-09)FINAL.indd 11
3/24/09 3:08:46 PM
H O M E C O M M U N I T Y
Berens River, Manitoba
C U LT U R A L I D E N T I T Y
Ojibway
C U R R E N T P O S I T I O N
Special Education Classroom Teacher
Ab. Education (Mar24-09)FINAL.indd 12
3/24/09 3:08:51 PM
Alma Orlene Bernier (Sinclair)
E D U C AT I O N / T R A I N I N G
B.Ed, B.A, Health Care Aid,
Educational Assistant Certificate.
northern community. I was the youngest girl in a family of
seven. My mother worked on the reserve and my father was
a log cutter/fisherman and was gone seasonally. I lived with
my grandmother all my life. She encouraged me to learn and
to go to school. After having all her children and working for
years my mother decided to go back to school and started from
scratch. She became a teacher, taught for
fifteen years, and is now retired. I never
thought about the hardships that came
along with going back to school when it
came to my mother, but years later I found
myself walking that same path.
I dropped out of high school in grade 12 and had three chil-
dren. I was a single parent and had to start working to provide
for my children. Years went by and I started to wonder about
my future and the future of my children. I found I needed
something more. I never knew what I wanted to be when
asked by my teachers and friends. I never knew, until I gained
employment working in a school as an educational assistant.
Times were hard and money was limited, but I enjoyed mak-
ing a difference in the lives of children. To this day I will never
regret any decisions I have made in the course of my life, nor
would I change them. Good or bad, every decision I made led
to experience and wisdom. Now, I am an educator and enjoy
teaching others. I enjoy laughing, playing, sharing, and talking
with my students.
13
I grew up in a remote
R O L E S / R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S
Plan and implement specific learning outcomes for each student in the classroom.
Teach, assess, delegate jobs, and do performance evaluations for Educational Assistants.
People will benefit from the decisions
you make in your life, especially you.
A dream is courage with an attitude.
Ab. Education (Mar24-09)FINAL.indd 13
3/24/09 3:08:51 PM