This year, school district 57 hosted an Indigenous day of learning, that I was thankful to be able to attend two amazing sessions.

I was able to listen to Ashley Callingbull’s empowering keynote speech her own personal experiences on the impacts of intergenerational trauma on mental health and wellbeing. In addition, the call to action that she put forward through her own story about the impact that one person can have on the world if we try.

I was also fortunate to attend Nikki Sanchez’s session on way 10 ways to live sustainably in a time of climate change. In her session Nikki described that one way that we can do better to live sustainably is to be mindful. I feel like so often we go to the store and go on autopilot mode, and buy thing wrapped in multiple layers of garbage, or we go to Tim Hortons and forget our re-usable cup,etc. However, being mindful to place creates a connection where we notice the changes, where notice what it needs. I think this connection is going to help us feel be mindful in all aspects of our life outside of being in nature and the impact of our choices on that relationship.

I think that the biggest take away or underlying theme was that learning involves recognizing the consequences of our actions. In both the way that we treat people, and treat our world, there are going to be lasting consequences. We need to look at our own underlying biases and belief systems if we want to make the changes so that the consequences of our actions are not as negative. My call to action is going to follow in Ashley’s and Nikki’s lead and use my voice to support suggested in using your voice for good, and to support others and our world.