Indigenous Author Drew Hayden Taylor
Virtually Visits Notre Dame
In Quadmester 3, the Understanding First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices English class (NBE 3U) welcomed writer Drew Hayden Taylor, whose novel and play the class had studied. Hailing from Curve Lake First Nation, Mr. Taylor, who is of Ojibway heritage, spoke with the students about being a writer, being Ojibway, and the importance of being aware of what is going on in the world around us. Here are some student voices to share what resonated with them from this talk.
“I loved the experience of Drew Hayden Taylor coming into our call and discussing his books. It gave a more insight into the meaning behind his characters and storylines. It became less of a fictional story and more of an experience that we were reading. He was a character in himself, which I felt was emphasized in his books.” Cameron B.
“It was a good experience hearing about the struggles and successes firsthand from Drew himself. What resonated with me most was the patience he had. The way he would balance his timelines, go from idea to idea not rushing to finish them, but waiting until he believed they were ready is motivational, as that is something you don't see very often anymore.” Ethan P.
“When people think of published and accomplished authors, they tend to think of someone that is surreal. Thinking about Drew Hayden Taylor was no exception. I assumed that when talking to him there would be a sort of distance, but I was wrong. Instead it felt comfortable. He gave off a great energy when speaking to us. You could also tell that through the stories he told us, he had a genuine love for the things he has written and shared with the world. The sincere joy he seemed to feel made me realize just how much the stories we've read meant to him, and the questions we asked only highlighted this even more.” Denikka T
.
“When Drew Hayden Taylor spoke about how he felt that Indigenous people should be represented as happy and humourous that really spoke to me. Throughout this course we have studied the tremendous trauma Indigenous people have endured, but we also have witnessed their ability to persevere. I admire the way that Drew Hayden Taylor has been able to use humour to help Indigenous communities heal and come together in such unity.” Grace H.
“I felt that meeting with Drew Hayden Taylor allowed me to better connect with everything that we have learned throughout the course, as well as the novel and play that we read. It was exciting to have had this opportunity, because I feel that there is a vast difference between learning about a subject through information and stories and learning from a person who has directly experienced life as an Indigenous person. I felt that this meeting was a great way to end the course and really connect with what we learned on a more personal level.” Ella B.
“I loved the experience of Drew Hayden Taylor coming into our call and discussing his books. It gave a more insight into the meaning behind his characters and storylines. It became less of a fictional story and more of an experience that we were reading. He was a character in himself, which I felt was emphasized in his books.” Cameron B.
“It was a good experience hearing about the struggles and successes firsthand from Drew himself. What resonated with me most was the patience he had. The way he would balance his timelines, go from idea to idea not rushing to finish them, but waiting until he believed they were ready is motivational, as that is something you don't see very often anymore.” Ethan P.
“When people think of published and accomplished authors, they tend to think of someone that is surreal. Thinking about Drew Hayden Taylor was no exception. I assumed that when talking to him there would be a sort of distance, but I was wrong. Instead it felt comfortable. He gave off a great energy when speaking to us. You could also tell that through the stories he told us, he had a genuine love for the things he has written and shared with the world. The sincere joy he seemed to feel made me realize just how much the stories we've read meant to him, and the questions we asked only highlighted this even more.” Denikka T
.
“When Drew Hayden Taylor spoke about how he felt that Indigenous people should be represented as happy and humourous that really spoke to me. Throughout this course we have studied the tremendous trauma Indigenous people have endured, but we also have witnessed their ability to persevere. I admire the way that Drew Hayden Taylor has been able to use humour to help Indigenous communities heal and come together in such unity.” Grace H.
“I felt that meeting with Drew Hayden Taylor allowed me to better connect with everything that we have learned throughout the course, as well as the novel and play that we read. It was exciting to have had this opportunity, because I feel that there is a vast difference between learning about a subject through information and stories and learning from a person who has directly experienced life as an Indigenous person. I felt that this meeting was a great way to end the course and really connect with what we learned on a more personal level.” Ella B.
“For me, the most impactful of Drew’s presentation is when he was talking about how he had asked his teacher if he thought Drew would succeed in writing books. The answer was no… It goes to show that if you are really passionate about something and you follow that dream then it will happen and that is what Drew Hayden Taylor did.” Jeremy E.
“I very much enjoyed hearing Drew Hayden Taylor talk to our class and I wish he would have been able to stay longer and answer more questions. I found it interesting when he talked about what got him into writing Indigenous stories. He had noticed that other plays and books were very depressing or oppressive and he wanted to create something comedic that still portrayed an important message. He talked about what it was like for him to grow up on an Indigenous reserve while being part white but having no connection to his non-Indigenous half, and I found his stories about that very interesting.” Amanda G.
“’Humour was the WD40 of healing’ was something Drew Hayden Taylor said that stuck with me. It is quite a positive outlook on the negative sides of the world. His viewpoint of wanting to heal rather than exposing the poison in our society helped me to realize how laughter truly is the best medicine. If everyone takes everything so seriously in life, there will be such a lack of fun in the world and there will be no end to oppression.” Grace C.
“I very much enjoyed hearing Drew Hayden Taylor talk to our class and I wish he would have been able to stay longer and answer more questions. I found it interesting when he talked about what got him into writing Indigenous stories. He had noticed that other plays and books were very depressing or oppressive and he wanted to create something comedic that still portrayed an important message. He talked about what it was like for him to grow up on an Indigenous reserve while being part white but having no connection to his non-Indigenous half, and I found his stories about that very interesting.” Amanda G.
“’Humour was the WD40 of healing’ was something Drew Hayden Taylor said that stuck with me. It is quite a positive outlook on the negative sides of the world. His viewpoint of wanting to heal rather than exposing the poison in our society helped me to realize how laughter truly is the best medicine. If everyone takes everything so seriously in life, there will be such a lack of fun in the world and there will be no end to oppression.” Grace C.
“The talk with Drew Hayden Taylor was an eye opener for me, as I personally had not had the opportunity to hear a First Nations member speak, especially to openly ask him questions. Drew Hayden Taylor's talk will be in my mind for a while, as he spoke very knowledgeably….What is going to stick with me the most is his response to the question "what can we do?" He said the problems in society cannot be fixed by only be us, they need to be fixed by people higher in power, and the only way they are going to hear you is by people speaking out and more people being aware of the situations. I personally am going to do my best to speak up and be more aware of situations happening today and that have happened in the past.” Logan M.
“I thought it was an amazing opportunity to be able to meet a famous author and listen to the story of his life and some challenges he had faced along his journey. When Drew was younger, he was told he would never be able to become an author and was told that's not a career to go into. He followed his dream, tried out many different career options and still became an author despite what he was told. Anyone can persevere and do what they want, no matter what others around you say.” Saskia P.
“I thought it was an amazing opportunity to be able to meet a famous author and listen to the story of his life and some challenges he had faced along his journey. When Drew was younger, he was told he would never be able to become an author and was told that's not a career to go into. He followed his dream, tried out many different career options and still became an author despite what he was told. Anyone can persevere and do what they want, no matter what others around you say.” Saskia P.
Op-Ed: A Letter to MP Pam Damoff
Ms. Pam Damoff, MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services
My name is ________, and I am a grade 11 student at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School in Burlington, Ontario. I am writing to ask you to provide more substantial funding and services for shelters for Indigenous women and children. I am also requesting that more shelters be put in place so that Indigenous women and children in all areas have an equal chance at safety and support if they need it. I have been learning about Indigenous issues and rights through a course at my school called Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Voices. I am part Metis, so I feel very strongly about advocating for Indigenous people and their rights.
According to Statistics Canada, Indigenous women are proportionately more likely to be victims of abuse from intimate partner violence. In 2017/2018, there were 85 shelters with ties to Indigenous communities or organizations, with over 10,500 admissions over a 12-month period. This highlights the need for shelters in these communities. A primary concern in remote, rural, Indigenous communities is that many existing shelters serve large areas with spread-out populations. As a result, victims often don’t have many places to go that are close by when they are escaping abusive situations. This causes an accessibility issue, as Indigenous women and children don’t always have the means to get to shelters. Furthermore, many shelters for Indigenous women and children are operating at full capacity. According to a 2018 survey done by Statistics Canada, approximately one-third of short-term Indigenous shelters were full on the day the survey was conducted. As a result, 69 women and 16 accompanying children were turned away from an Indigenous women’s shelter. This is especially problematic if the woman had to travel to another community to seek shelter as she would have no friends or family to fall back on to find a place to stay. Over one-third (36%) of Indigenous shelters have cited a lack of funding as a common challenge facing their shelter.
What I am trying to say is that the government needs to provide more substantial funding and services for Indigenous women’s shelters, as what they are receiving currently just isn’t enough to properly care for the vulnerable women and children who need those services. The size and capacity of some shelters simply aren’t sufficient enough to house all the women and children who seek support. These women and children are trying to escape violent situations, and with the help of extra funding, they can do that. I am requesting that more shelters be put in place so that women and children in all areas have an equal chance at safety and support if they need it. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter, stay safe!
Sincerely,
_________
My name is ________, and I am a grade 11 student at Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School in Burlington, Ontario. I am writing to ask you to provide more substantial funding and services for shelters for Indigenous women and children. I am also requesting that more shelters be put in place so that Indigenous women and children in all areas have an equal chance at safety and support if they need it. I have been learning about Indigenous issues and rights through a course at my school called Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Voices. I am part Metis, so I feel very strongly about advocating for Indigenous people and their rights.
According to Statistics Canada, Indigenous women are proportionately more likely to be victims of abuse from intimate partner violence. In 2017/2018, there were 85 shelters with ties to Indigenous communities or organizations, with over 10,500 admissions over a 12-month period. This highlights the need for shelters in these communities. A primary concern in remote, rural, Indigenous communities is that many existing shelters serve large areas with spread-out populations. As a result, victims often don’t have many places to go that are close by when they are escaping abusive situations. This causes an accessibility issue, as Indigenous women and children don’t always have the means to get to shelters. Furthermore, many shelters for Indigenous women and children are operating at full capacity. According to a 2018 survey done by Statistics Canada, approximately one-third of short-term Indigenous shelters were full on the day the survey was conducted. As a result, 69 women and 16 accompanying children were turned away from an Indigenous women’s shelter. This is especially problematic if the woman had to travel to another community to seek shelter as she would have no friends or family to fall back on to find a place to stay. Over one-third (36%) of Indigenous shelters have cited a lack of funding as a common challenge facing their shelter.
What I am trying to say is that the government needs to provide more substantial funding and services for Indigenous women’s shelters, as what they are receiving currently just isn’t enough to properly care for the vulnerable women and children who need those services. The size and capacity of some shelters simply aren’t sufficient enough to house all the women and children who seek support. These women and children are trying to escape violent situations, and with the help of extra funding, they can do that. I am requesting that more shelters be put in place so that women and children in all areas have an equal chance at safety and support if they need it. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter, stay safe!
Sincerely,
_________
“Outside ND”
Life Beyond the School Zone
By Easton McGillicuddy
For both students and staff alike, this academic school year has presented a variety of challenges surrounding the various transitions both into, and out of the classroom. In these past few months, I’ve tried it all- I’ve been to class in person, moved to online learning due to a school closure, and switched to cohort C. As we enter the last quarter of the year, I begin to reflect on all of these experiences, and how they’ve allowed me to gather information about myself that will help me progress as a learner post secondary. While I look forward to a return to a more traditional learning environment, myself and my peers have summarized some benefits of each learning scenario we’ve experienced, tips for online learning, as well as advice for grade 9 and 10 students, whose only experience so far is what I have dubbed “ND Quarantine style” that can be utilized in the meantime.
From September to December, I attended school in person and this best resembled my previous school life, as well as future university days where I would head to a lecture and then head home. Although not total normalcy, this is the learning format where I felt best connected to my peers, getting to interact with them at least partially- talking from our desks, or on our way out the door after class. After the Christmas break, due to a school closure much like the present, our class moved to a remote learning environment. Although this is the scenario where I felt challenged to self motivate through the remainder of the quadmester, personally I also enjoyed having everyone in my class on one platform. While remote learning can limit our interactions, I felt classes ran smoothly and eliminating travel time from school allowed me to have more time between classes to study. With this in mind, I decided to stay at home for quad 3 despite schools opening back up. The benefits of extra study time (and extra sleep in the morning) remained, however I still faced challenges with self motivation and accountability being at home all the time. In cohort A or B, you go into school some days and you want to be prepared to be in class. While the same sentiment remains at home, I found I needed to push myself more and schedule my days in order to make the most of my time. Academically speaking, I found my time in all learning platforms to be relatively equivalent, however learning remotely gave me the most insight into the adjustments I needed to make for myself to be successful with my learning.
Throughout my time in online learning, I experimented with a variety of my previous study methods and worked to find more engaging habits to keep myself motivated throughout the quadmester. One main way I keep myself organized is by keeping a weekly checklist of homework, tests, and other important due dates, which helps me visualize what days of the week will be more or less busy, and prevents me from missing anything. Another tactic I use while studying or doing homework is using background noise. Normally this would have been the atmosphere of the classroom, but I’ve found that a good replacement for this is a podcast. I like to try to pair it up with what I’m learning at the time, so for these past two quads the Math & Physics Podcast by 2 UofT students has been my go to. However, I realize this tips may not be universally applicable, so I reached out to my friends Kayla and Holly to ask about their experience in these environments and what they has been doing to stay productive during this time:
“Like many of you, online learning was an adjustment for me. The study tactics and methods that I had used all throughout high school suddenly became ineffective as a result of the new compressed 10-week format. So what did I do? I adapted, and let me tell you it wasn’t always easy. I experimented with different forms of note-taking, using digital notes and typed notes for the first time and even found myself using apps such as Quizlet, that prior to the pandemic I had completely ignored. While some of these attempts were considered total fails (at least to me) some of them worked, and a few I even continue using to this day. Overall, this new learning environment taught me the value of trying new things, regardless of the outcome- which is something valuable I hope to implement in my future, as the ability to embrace change and adapt are crucial components in the pursuit for success.” -Kayla Bent
Even though the pandemic has been around for over a year, it still forces us all to readjust and adapt to new environments. To all of the Grade 9 and 10 students who have only been around for the pandemic, I hope some of Holly’s advice can help you get through the rest of online learning, as well as transitioning for your years to come.
“Over these past four years I have learned the importance of cultivating relationships with those in the Notre Dame community. If I could give one piece of advice to younger students, it would be to find a mentor at school to help guide you through your high school journey. You are entering a new chapter of your life, so it is completely understandable that it can be hard to navigate. I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and foster a communicative relationship with a senior student who has similar goals as you, as this is an amazing way to ease some of your worries. Whether you are seeking guidance pertaining to your academics, athletics, or friendships I promise that there is someone out there to help! There are plenty of ways to find a mentor; my biggest tip would be to get involved in clubs. In doing this you will find several students with similar passions who are more than willing to lend a helping hand in any way possible. In particular, two incredible clubs that we have at Notre Dame are: L2L Tutoring, and the Prefect program. These students have a passion for leadership and are dedicated to improving student life, so I definitely recommend utilizing these opportunities. Lastly, I want to say that I understand how difficult it can be to ask for help, but do not be ashamed. Just by you showing up demonstrates that you want to be better, and grow into your best self- which is very admirable.” -Holly Marini
Personally, heading towards the end of this journey is surreal for me- mostly because I get to look back fondly on the memories I’ve made and the people I have met in the years prior. Although I got to meet some of my best friends early on in high school, and this may be the pandemic years for many of you, I just want to remind you all that the light at the end of the tunnel is coming, and I hope you’ll soon get to experience the Notre Dame I know and love. In the meantime, based on the wisdom of my friend Evan Bilaver, who named this article, let’s all “study hard and quarantine harder” to finish this final year off strong!
For both students and staff alike, this academic school year has presented a variety of challenges surrounding the various transitions both into, and out of the classroom. In these past few months, I’ve tried it all- I’ve been to class in person, moved to online learning due to a school closure, and switched to cohort C. As we enter the last quarter of the year, I begin to reflect on all of these experiences, and how they’ve allowed me to gather information about myself that will help me progress as a learner post secondary. While I look forward to a return to a more traditional learning environment, myself and my peers have summarized some benefits of each learning scenario we’ve experienced, tips for online learning, as well as advice for grade 9 and 10 students, whose only experience so far is what I have dubbed “ND Quarantine style” that can be utilized in the meantime.
From September to December, I attended school in person and this best resembled my previous school life, as well as future university days where I would head to a lecture and then head home. Although not total normalcy, this is the learning format where I felt best connected to my peers, getting to interact with them at least partially- talking from our desks, or on our way out the door after class. After the Christmas break, due to a school closure much like the present, our class moved to a remote learning environment. Although this is the scenario where I felt challenged to self motivate through the remainder of the quadmester, personally I also enjoyed having everyone in my class on one platform. While remote learning can limit our interactions, I felt classes ran smoothly and eliminating travel time from school allowed me to have more time between classes to study. With this in mind, I decided to stay at home for quad 3 despite schools opening back up. The benefits of extra study time (and extra sleep in the morning) remained, however I still faced challenges with self motivation and accountability being at home all the time. In cohort A or B, you go into school some days and you want to be prepared to be in class. While the same sentiment remains at home, I found I needed to push myself more and schedule my days in order to make the most of my time. Academically speaking, I found my time in all learning platforms to be relatively equivalent, however learning remotely gave me the most insight into the adjustments I needed to make for myself to be successful with my learning.
Throughout my time in online learning, I experimented with a variety of my previous study methods and worked to find more engaging habits to keep myself motivated throughout the quadmester. One main way I keep myself organized is by keeping a weekly checklist of homework, tests, and other important due dates, which helps me visualize what days of the week will be more or less busy, and prevents me from missing anything. Another tactic I use while studying or doing homework is using background noise. Normally this would have been the atmosphere of the classroom, but I’ve found that a good replacement for this is a podcast. I like to try to pair it up with what I’m learning at the time, so for these past two quads the Math & Physics Podcast by 2 UofT students has been my go to. However, I realize this tips may not be universally applicable, so I reached out to my friends Kayla and Holly to ask about their experience in these environments and what they has been doing to stay productive during this time:
“Like many of you, online learning was an adjustment for me. The study tactics and methods that I had used all throughout high school suddenly became ineffective as a result of the new compressed 10-week format. So what did I do? I adapted, and let me tell you it wasn’t always easy. I experimented with different forms of note-taking, using digital notes and typed notes for the first time and even found myself using apps such as Quizlet, that prior to the pandemic I had completely ignored. While some of these attempts were considered total fails (at least to me) some of them worked, and a few I even continue using to this day. Overall, this new learning environment taught me the value of trying new things, regardless of the outcome- which is something valuable I hope to implement in my future, as the ability to embrace change and adapt are crucial components in the pursuit for success.” -Kayla Bent
Even though the pandemic has been around for over a year, it still forces us all to readjust and adapt to new environments. To all of the Grade 9 and 10 students who have only been around for the pandemic, I hope some of Holly’s advice can help you get through the rest of online learning, as well as transitioning for your years to come.
“Over these past four years I have learned the importance of cultivating relationships with those in the Notre Dame community. If I could give one piece of advice to younger students, it would be to find a mentor at school to help guide you through your high school journey. You are entering a new chapter of your life, so it is completely understandable that it can be hard to navigate. I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and foster a communicative relationship with a senior student who has similar goals as you, as this is an amazing way to ease some of your worries. Whether you are seeking guidance pertaining to your academics, athletics, or friendships I promise that there is someone out there to help! There are plenty of ways to find a mentor; my biggest tip would be to get involved in clubs. In doing this you will find several students with similar passions who are more than willing to lend a helping hand in any way possible. In particular, two incredible clubs that we have at Notre Dame are: L2L Tutoring, and the Prefect program. These students have a passion for leadership and are dedicated to improving student life, so I definitely recommend utilizing these opportunities. Lastly, I want to say that I understand how difficult it can be to ask for help, but do not be ashamed. Just by you showing up demonstrates that you want to be better, and grow into your best self- which is very admirable.” -Holly Marini
Personally, heading towards the end of this journey is surreal for me- mostly because I get to look back fondly on the memories I’ve made and the people I have met in the years prior. Although I got to meet some of my best friends early on in high school, and this may be the pandemic years for many of you, I just want to remind you all that the light at the end of the tunnel is coming, and I hope you’ll soon get to experience the Notre Dame I know and love. In the meantime, based on the wisdom of my friend Evan Bilaver, who named this article, let’s all “study hard and quarantine harder” to finish this final year off strong!