Value the Children

For ten years, 1985 to 1994, I spent weeks and months at a time with Indigenous children, teaching at summer “Bible schools” across northern Canada, and for five years, 1990-94, at youth camps among Dene kids aged 12 to 18. 

What I learned about them contradicted every description made to justify treating them as inferior, unable to learn, not worthy of quality education.  Rather, they were interested, lively, responsive, imaginative, full of humour and mischief, active and resourceful. 

Our Indigenous brothers and sisters know how to welcome and include strangers, and having done that, they willingly share their knowledge and stories...experience gained from eons of life lived in harmony with the natural environment and with respect for the Great Spirit and all members of the community.  We can learn from them, particularly because they are good at some things we’re not good at:

• welcoming strangers
• honouring the land for what it is, not just for what it can produce
• laughing at themselves
• communicating across generations
• seeing the Creator in everything

Read the entire article attached below.

Rev. Faith Brace