Is an author visit worthwhile?

An author visit is worthwhile, inspiration being the most important of the many benefits,

Here are a few of the many responses to my student presentations...

1. I wanted to thank you for the time you spent with our students. It meant so much to them that an author, and a Metis man, would take the time to acknowledge them. They left talking about what gifts they might possess and how the expectation was they needed to share those gifts with others. Our students are rich in many ways but don’t often have a role model in the literacy world. You provided them with that missing piece. You know all the blessings you brought to them and I thank you for taking the time to share them.

I also want to thank you for bringing mental health to the forefront. It is a topic we do not talk about enough and your passion about it will

encourage us to address it daily.

If you are ever looking for something to do when in our city, our doors are open.

2. I would like to thank you deeply for coming to our school and presenting your life story for us. I would love for you to come again.

And when you said that reading would help your education and make school a lot easier I went home and the first thing I did was read a book that I already started. Many authors have come to spend some time with us and tell us about reading and how important it is but out of all that came hear I find that you are the most influencing and inspiring out of all. 

3. I can think of nothing but positive things to say about your presentation. As I speak French and German, I was pleased to hear that you do too.

I was also delighted to hear a French-Canadian accent; I have never heard one before, and I found it fascinating, not to mention hilarious (in a good way). I would like to thank you for your honesty in all subjects you spoke about, good and bad. I found the tale of Robbie heart-wrenchingly sad and yet full of hope, thank you for sharing it with us. I find your poems, your "rap for old people", very beautiful, and I am elated at having discovered it. I can but express my joy at your coming to ASB, and hope that you will come back one day.

4. Thank you so much for coming to our school and talking to us. From all the different authors that have come to our school I think you have been the best and most inspiring author.

I’m not jus saying that; I really feel that way. Your sense of humor is great and I had a lot of fun listening to you. I also really appreciate how you are so honest about yourself and your family. I think you play the flute really well and I love the song you wrote about your grandmother. I even had more fun with your books because of the rap and poems in it; it’s much more interesting to listen to than reading normal books everywhere. I really want to read the book you wrote for your daughter. All of the stories you told us were so inspiring; before you came I wasn’t a reader but now I think I’m definitely going to start reading.

5. Thank you for coming and presenting at my school. You are a very unique writer and a very inspiring person. I am in grade 12. I really enjoyed your talk. I fall under the category of those who don’t like reading.

I hate it when a teacher call on me to read in front of the class, I feel as if everyone is going to mock me because I read slow and get words mixed up easily. I have never approached any of my teachers really because they would always say, well you can read a easier book! Well I think them doing that has caused me to never want to try the harder novels. I have probably only read 2 or 3 full novels and that is probably including ones that I skipped a chapter or at least a few pages.

I have such a great imagination and would love to enjoy reading. My dad used to read to me all of the time when I was younger and I wish he still did. I enjoy short stories and things like that but I get bored easily and need something to really grab my attention....Could you please send me the names of a few books that you would recommend. You are unlike any authors I’ve heard of. It is unique how you go around giving talks about your books and your life. Most authors, if they said write to them, would probably have someone working for them reply to all of their so-called fans! But it is nice how you are so involved with the community and the students who, even if only a few are inspired, makes all the difference in the world. I know I am rambling on but I would really like you help in guiding me down what has been a hard and frustrating road - reading well and enjoying it. Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you in the near future.

Inspired

You didn’t lecture,
But tried to help.
Still had giggles
The comedy sticks to my brain like kelp!

I’m inspired now,
To pursue my dreams.
I see the light of the future in my hands,
Oh how that light gleams.

You didn’t brag,
You seem down-to-earth.
Truly a brilliant person,
Two glances is way less than you’re worth.

An inspiring author,
Is what you are!
Don’t forget that message,
Because you have got so far!

A Haudenosaunee Story

Michael Lovechild and Allen Sapp are two of Saskatchewan's most popular artists. I am privileged to have collaborated with them both.

In this sweet book, Michael and I share the Haudenosaunee story of the Three Sisters.  

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick's Day always brings this project/book to mind. 

This was to be a fundraiser for African children inflicted with AIDS. Sadly, politics got in the way and I am left with ...this...from what would have been a wonderful resource. In spite of the disappointment, I loved the journey that got us this far. 

Robbie Burns (Scottish of course) said that not reading poetry aloud is like playing tennis without a net. So please, in your best Irish accent, give it a read.

Mission Accomplished

Mission Accomplished 

Calgary...Edmonton...and today, home from Vancouver. 

Mine is the most satisfying work you can possibly imagine. If you've yet to witness one of my presentations and are considering inviting me to speak to your students or staff or parents, this post should serve you well. 

My most recent presentation was to the eight hundred angels at Minnekhada Middle School in Port Coquitlam. The feedback I received was nothing less than humbling. Thank you Mustangs (and staff). What I set out to do, I did. I can proudly say "mission accomplished". 

What was my mission?

1. To Entertain – to make our time together enjoyable and fun - for students, staff and parents...by playing fun, uplifting music (Unstoppable by Sia) as we gathered...then a song on my flutes as an introduction to my heritage and my upcoming message.

Mission accomplished. 

2. To be meaningful to all students, including those with Special Gifts – 

To include everyone by focussing on the reality that we all have a special gift. It is unfortunate that we refer to some students as having "special needs". The truth is, some of us have special gifts. I repeatedly spoke in terms of Different Abilities in contrast to Disabilities. 

It took me 45 years to realize that my gift is that of a "story teller". It then took the courage of Bear for me to take a huge step away from my safe profession as a school principal to the unknown world of a touring story teller/author. 

I asked students to become involved:...Raise your arm if you can draw/paint. Good. Thank you. Raise your arm if you cannot draw/paint. Good. Thank you. Now raise your arm if you can dance...and then if you are good with numbers...good with animals...athletic...etc... Students know what they love as it is often directly related to what they are good at: their gift.  Mission accomplished. 

3. Poetry – the spoken word - I read from...(rapped from) one of my books. I lightened things up all the while sharing the power of rap - poetry. I shared Voices from the Wild and gave a copy of the book to a student. 

Mission accomplished.

4. Indigenous learning – Meet your Family - Seven Sacred Teachings - 

Most schools, if not every school, are making Indigenous studies a school focus. It is past the time that Canadian students understand that we are all one family. We are all related. This reality is but one of many Indigenous teachings that can be shared with our youth. My book Meet Your Family tells that story.

We are one family. We all share the same Mother, Father, Grandfather... 

And of course the Teachings...a natural way to see the world and how best to live our lives. 

Some First Nations refer to the Teachings as the Grandfather Teachings. Others speak of the Teachings of White Buffalo Calf Woman. The Haudenosaunee subscribe to the Great Law in which the Teachings are deeply rooted. 

Nations should never go to war over the belief that one religion is better than another.

The natural way at achieving peace and harmony lies in the teachings.  

I shared the Teachings in a manner that is easy to understand and to remember. I gifted two books during this sharing, one to the student who is gifted with a memory that allows them to recall them and another book to a student whose gift is not that memory recall but something else that they can identify. 

"Wow! Thank you so much for the presentations. You lit a fire under the teachers to reteach the 7 sacred teachings!"

Mission accomplished.

5. Mental Health

Students heard me say that mental health is as real as a broken arm or the need for glasses. Thos message should not be talked about on one day of the year but as often as possible by those of us in a position of influence. 

Mission accomplished. 

Is Alberta really redneck

Teachers 1 - Rednecks 0

The politics of "education" in Alberta is interesting. It is also challenging.

Many families have a "black sheep". Alberta is looking more and more as if it is Canada's.

In a family, there’s often one child that’s quicker or more pleasant or bigger and stronger than it’s siblings. In Canada, Alberta might be that child. Let's face it, Alberta has prairies galore, an abundance of forests and lakes and it has those spectacular mountains. And oh, let's not forget, it has oil.

Add to all this, there exists a passageway between Alberta and the United States, a doorway that doesn’t exist among other provinces. If there are any problems between Alberta and the rest of Canada, these will surely be magnified by the influence of the USA. Canada and the USA are very different as countries and as people. 

In spite of all its many blessings, Alberta has in the past, elected governments that are similar to those of the other two prairie provinces. They have chosen a government that is uniquely socially minded by nature. The most recent of these was ten years ago when the NDP formed a majority government. Today however, much of what's taking place in Alberta seems to be driven by economics and a whole series of programmes and policies promoted by the US.

However, when it comes to my personal experiences in Alberta, all which are in the field of education, things couldn’t be more different.

Over the past thirty years, I have worked extensively with teachers, administrators and trustees, parents and students. 

Alberta teachers are as professional and dedicated as teachers anywhere in the world. They work as hard and harder than most given the restrictions and directives of a government whose primary focus might not be education, health and other socially related fields.

Alberta parents, not unlike parents anywhere in the world, love their children unconditionally and would do anything for them. Parents simply need to be given the facts (told the truth) and given the direction they need to play their role in educating their children. 

Trustees and board members are equally as caring and dedicated. The challenge they face is that they have been elected into an educational system that has taken on a life of its own, one that has been fed and nurtured by the US. This speaks to 
extensive testing at younger and younger ages, labelling kids, believing in levelled readers to teach reading, as opposed good wholesome books. When given the chance, I talk to trustees about the successful, wholesome educational realities that they do not see before them. It wasn’t long ago that I was invited to speak at at their annual conference. My Lois E. Hole keynote detailed the beliefs of Maria Montessori, beliefs that are consistent with those of Lois E. Hole. I was rewarded with a standing ovation. These folks truly do care.

In a world where teachers do not feel appreciated or supported, Alberta educators should stand tall and proud in their fight at providing Alberta’s youth with the very best education possible. I am among their greatest fans. I am among their greatest supporters.