Educators get international recognition

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International environmental organization Ecotrust has chosen a British Columbia educator for the Buffett Award for Indigenous Leadership.

Jeannette Armstrong, executive director of the En'owkin Centre in Penticton, received the award for her work in environmental education. Four finalists were also honoured at the Dec. 2 award ceremony at Ecotrust's headquarter in Portland, Oregon, including North Thompson Indian Band Chief Nathan Matthew.

Armstrong, from the Okanagan Nation, says the biggest issue we face today is "finding a way to contribute to the recovery of a process that's rapidly taking a dangerous course: the degradation of the earth by humans."

"There is a lack of principles and ethics that used to govern how we interacted with the land and all other living creatures," said Armstrong. "This is a result of the degradation of the human spirit, and we must find a way to shift that paradigm in order to recover better practices for the earth to recover."

Armstrong speaks the Okanagan language fluently and has studied traditional teachings under the direction of the Okanagan Elders for many years. She says Indigenous people had always lived according to a philosophy and best practices that respect the natural world around them, but those ethics and their ethos were eroded by colonizing interests.

"The balance of power has been shifted away from those who practice 100 per cent sustainability on their lands. The ceremonies and agricultural practices of the Indigenous people are based on not only taking those resources but sustaining them.

"For 25 years, I've been working to find ways to incorporate these practices in the contemporary world, so the principles of caring and respect for the earth can be used in today's lifestyles."

Armstrong stressed the importance of education in changing our society's emphasis on individual gratification. "As long as the education system keeps turning up people who are indoctrinated in feeling that money is the only measure of success, success will continue to be measured that way in our society."

Armstrong's work with the Centre for Ecoliteracy in Berkeley, California has resulted in a number of schools in the state restructuring their curriculum so students have an opportunity to practise principles that value and respect the spirit of the land.

At the En'owkin Centre, faculty and students implement Indigenous knowledge and systems to create a culturally sensitive learning environment.

Her next project is to use the fellowship provided by the Buffett Award to turn the land surrounding the En'owkin Centre into a garden that bears berries, fruits and medicine.

"The land adjacent to the En'owkin Centre is one of the last cottonwood habitats and home of many endangered species," explained Armstrong. "Our goal is to find a way to both benefit the land owners and conserve the cottonwoods."

Armstrong is using the fellowship to set up an endowment fund. The yields would then be used to lease the land long-term for educational purposes.

"We'll use the land as a teaching resource, as part of our real-world learning. We'll engage students of all ages to learn about the species, involve them in the restoration process, through which they'll learn how humans can live sustainably."

A poet and visual artist, Armstrong also uses the gift of art to help people understand environmental issues. Set in pre-contact time, her children's book "Neekna and Chenai" (Gosh and Maybe in Okanagan language) shows the world through two children's eyes and describes their awe in learning the delicate relationship among all beings.

"I'm very grateful for the gift of being able to create poetry to help people understand these concerns," said Armstrong. "It's a very precious and sacred gift, and I try to use it to speak for those who don't have a voice."

On winning the Buffett Award, which was created by U.S. philanthropists Howard and Peter Buffett and headed by renowned Native American writer Lz Woody, Armstrong said it's particular significant because Ecotrust's programs are "right in line with everything I believe in."

North Thompson Indian Band Chief Nathan Matthew was recognized as a finalist because of his work in improving the social, economic, educational and environmental conditions of the Secwepemc people.

Matthew, who is also chairman of the Shuswap National Tribal Council, was instrumental in recovery operations after this summer's devastating forest fires in his community. "We lost six out of eight houses in a small reservation subdivision," said Matthew. "The power lines were destroyed, which led to a lengthy power outage; and a large sawmill was burned down, leaving a dozen people jobless."

Matthew established an emergency centre, which managed the evacuation and provided food, shelter and information.

In his role with the tribal council and as a professional educator, Matthew is particularly interested in utilizing resources within his traditional territory to keep cultural practices alive.

"A lot of work we've been doing has been 'learning by doing.' We're building a hunting cabin on our traditional territory; we hold an annual relay through our land; we also run education programs around salmon and promote community hunts. "We have a right to celebrate who we are and to continue to practice our traditions and cultures," said Matthew. "Education is the tool we have to transmit those understandings to future generations.

The Aboriginal Education Improvement Agreement, which was developed and implemented under Matthew's leadership, is an incentive program for schools to improve the quality of education fin various areas, including subjects like mathematics and English, as well as improve general attendance and the graduation rate.

"The goal is to decrease the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal learners," said Matthew. "And we're already seeing great results, which also translates into more government funding."

Matthew said Frst Nations communities and families must take an active role in the decision-making process in the school system.

"As Aboriginal learners we haven't been able to establish a lot of confidence in terms of who we are, because so much of the education offered through the public school system doesn't have anything that reflect the history and contribution of First Nations people. Through involvement in education, we can be more supportive to our children and the future of our community."