After college, I became an outdoor educator and guide, working with both children and adults. I moved through and across land in three countries, totally impassioned and full of great intentions. I learned so much about my craft, group dynamics, reflection, management, and life. It became clear how deeply I loved being a facilitator. Upon reflection, I see that in these years I unknowingly contributed to and perpetuated the colonization of land and imagination. In a white-settler gaze, I did not see the detriment of teaching what I now know was a colonized relationship to land and knowledge. I enrolled in university at twenty-seven, burnt out and feeling like my brain needed exercise. I stumbled into anthropology and human geography. Here, I met Dr. Lisa Cooke. Her lectures and genuine kindness prompted deep exploration of the discursive formations and invisible power structures which hold up the privilege I live within. When you learn to identify new tree species, a forest will never look the same. When you learn to identify the harm supporting you while damming others, your day to day will never look the same. I gained consciousness here that gives new meaning to lifelong learning.
Thank you for exploring my timeline of educational influences. To read more about my experiences in depth, please visit the Life-Long Learning tab at the top of the page.
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