Desiree Jones and Lyndsey Joseph, Reflections on Land-Based Learning
July 1, 2021/inOn the Land
Desiree Jones / Research Assistant with Living Lab –
ÍY, SȻÁĆEL SIÁM NE SĆÁLEĆE. ESE Desiree Jones ĆSE LÁ,E SEN EṮ W̱SÁNEĆ. My name is Desiree Jones from Pauquachin First Nation. For the last couple months I’ve been working alongside Living Lab and working within the communities to help build better relationships and connections so that we can bring more land-based learning into the education system by working alongside different nations. I feel this is extremely important for all youth to be able to have the opportunity to work outside on the land and engage with culturally-responsive activities and courses. There is a lot planned ahead for this summer which I am feeling very happy and optimistic about. I’m excited to see all the different camps and work opportunities in the communities involving our youth, and how all the nations are working together and building the bridges to make this happen. As a mother myself I know how important this work is for our future generations. Bringing land-based learning into the school system is an important piece to Indigenous resurgence. Working with different nations, building relationships through hands-on work, and supporting the youth and communities, is what I hope to continue to see within the long term future with Living Lab.
Desiree and daughter Paris
Lyndsey Joseph, LL Research and Program Assistant –
Over the last 8 weeks of working with Living Lab I have had various opportunities to sit in on discussion planning and organizing land-based learning that introduces Indigenous Knowledge to Western Science. The children I have worked with are my biggest inspiration, their eagerness to learn and the excitement in their questions create a great atmosphere and energy. Being on the land is my motivation, ideas and visions for the future flow when I’m taking in so much history on the homelands. I would like to facilitate more community involvement this summer as well as creating more learning opportunities and work experience for our youth. It is important to me that we incorporate Indigenous History and Knowledge into our school systems in a respectful way and I think we are off to an incredible start, we have a fantastic team that share the same overall goals for our youths future and that to me assures the success of the Living Lab program.
These photos are from Plumper Bay, taking clam samples and doing water testing. My son Jesse has never had the opportunity to clam dig and he was really drawn into learning about water testing.
Jesse with Kristian Dubrawksi (UVic) learning about water
Jesse with Yogi (World Fisheries Trust) learning about clams