NIÁ:WEN Thank-you

what my mom taught me…My mom taught me everything. She showed me I could do anything I put my mind to. She showed me how to be thankful, how to be kind, how to find my voice and use it, with just the right amount of volume.

I miss her everyday, but I feel her love around me constantly and I am so grateful that she sent me Dion and Koda.

Koda Dion was born on April 27, 2015. He is truly a gift. My husband and I joke about how boring we must have been before we had him.

I am so thankful for my Koda.

Do you see the resemblance between Koda Dion and Koda Bear?

I met my best friend in the whole wide world in November 2006. We got married on my mom’s birthday (November 22, 2016) on the white sand beaches of Punta Cana, Republica Dominicana.

Shortly after this picture was taken, I jumped right in the pool! I’m nodding my head yes, with my dress on.

I am so thankful for my Dion.

BEST.

DAY.

EVER.

I went graduated from Brock with a Bachelor of Physical Education,

Kinesiology.

I graduated from Brock again with my Bachelor of Education.

This is my eighth year teaching.

Currently, I am on Education leave to complete the Professional Master of

Education Program here at Queen’s. I have a very busy schedule with 3

courses.

Positive thoughts & a growth mindset are a must.

After I graduated from Brock (the first time), I got a job teaching school in the Dominican Republic. I worked at a ‘rich’ English speaking school of approximately 400 students from pre kindergarten 2-3 all the way up to grade 12. I loved every minute of

it, even when I didn’t. I thank the Creator for allowing me this opportunity.

The Greatest teacher, failure is…

master yoda

Shé:kon. Iónkiats June. Ohswé:ken nitewaké:non. Kanien’kehá:ka niwakonhwentsiò:ten. Wakkwáho. Hello. My name is June. I am from Six Nations. I am Mohawk. My clan is Wolf.

In my Haudenosaunee culture, we are taught to be thankful for everything, so I thought it suiting to have my cover page be titled niá:wen, which translate to thank you in Mohawk.

Yes, I am a huge Star Wars fan. I think that Yoda has some of the best lines ever, including the quote on the previous page. I was absolutely thrilled when I heard him talk about failure in the Last Jedi. It fit perfectly with how I conduct my classroom. I honour the mistakes my students make & I own the mistakes I make (except when my husband is right!). This is so we can all learn from each other.

When I moved home from the Dominican Republic, I attended McMaster University’s Master of Science, Physiotherapy Program. Before my third set of exams, I was told I had to withdraw from the program because I was receiving a failing grade in one of my classes. I had never failed at anything in my life and I was ashamed of my failure.

What I realized, was I missed teaching kids. Fast-forward a few years; I patched up my ego, quit my job, & went to teacher’s college. I teach at a 100% Indigenous school, where half of the students learn in the Gayogohó:no’ language. I don’t know my language, yet, but I will. I am so thankful for everything I have and cannot wait to continue on this crazy journey.