EDTS 234 Indigenous Film Study: The Grizzlies

Lessson's learned:
1. Learned about the metis/inuit culture.
2. The teacher learned the cost of food.
3. The struggle with addiction within the community.
4. How sports can influence and bring postive change to the culture.
5. How building relationships is most important before you can learn.

An important lesson he learned when teaching these student's was how much trauma these kids were facing everyday. It is different experience to hear about this trauma then experiencing it first hand.
He also learned
- Some Inuit custom's, such as raising the eyebrow means "yes" in Inuit custom's.
- The reality of mental health issues in these rural areas, and the reasoning behind the high suicide rate.
- These student's needed something to give them hope.

Perhaps not every student can be an athlete but every student can be a part of the team.
Trauma leads to truama. As educators we have to build trust with every student to interupt perpetual truma cycles.
A strong relationship should be established first then the learning with come.
Academics is not the sole goal of school. School is about establishing the foundations of community buillding and self perseverance.
Every community, and more specifically, every family has different traditions and customs. Taking the time to learn these customs will help to strengthen relationships.

Lessons I learnt watching "The Grizzlies":
~Students can be in completely different situations in life and how important it is to be understanding.
~In inuit customs raising ones eyebrows means "yes".
~Once the teacher started to be more understanding, the students began connecting with the teacher better.
~Intergenerational trauma caused the parents to be concerned for Adam because they didn't want him to go through the same things that they had.
~Inuit peoples' trust has been broken too many times which is why it was so difficult to trust the teacher.
~Throughout the film the students "became the real teachers" since they taught the teacher how to embrace and recognize other cultures.

~Tyra Hallberg

1.) As a teacher you cannot demand respect, you have to earn it.
2.) A teacher needs to learn/observe their students so that they can understand them and know the most effective way to deal with their issues.
3.) Keeping students engaged and wanting to learn relies heavly on including their interests and making the content relatable so they can see the benefits.
4.) Teachers need to find what motivates their students and then use it to help them accomplish tasks.
5.) It is important to observe and learn about your students and their issues so you can be more understanding and flexible when problems arise.
6.) Learning and growing as a person does not always happen in a classroom.

Lessons learnt
- The trauma of the residential school effects generations
- The lifestyle is very diffrent
- It is so hard to change your life when you are in a specific society
- Alchol abuse is common and seen as normal

Lessons learned:
-Kyle's dad is an abusive alcoholic; however, is a residential school survivor so he is a victim of trauma and .
- Rodger commits suicide because he feels he has nothing left to live for and feels he is a terrible person for hitting his girlfriend.
- There is nothing to do in the town and as a result most people are alcoholics (including the children).
- Groceries are extremely expensive and some students are starving.
- Show respect for their ways and traditions.
- He tells the kids about the trip before asking anyone or looking into details and realizes it is very expensive ($2000/person plane ticket).
- Principal doesn't want him to make promices he cannot keep.
- Elders answer questions with a story.
- He was trying to teach them and he ended up learning more.

Lessons Learned From The Grizzlies;
-Importance of perserverence
-importance of team work
-importance of finishing the goal you started
-the importance of hope
-mental health awareness and why it is so important for educators to assist in mental health
-the importance of sharing Indigenous stories

*Lessons learned *

How the teacher came in full force trying to use punishment and was so unsuccesful to gain respect, but when you care about your students and build respect and a community like he did by trying to create a community with using love you will be sucessful with your students. Show them respect and go to them because they won't come to you.

When you affect a change their are consequences. Here the change that the Inuit people went through was not a consequence it was life changing. They had to give up their belief in change in order to bring something positive to the community.

How being aware of mental health matters and finding ways to resolve the internal issues that are coming from mental health.

Perservering through the hard times. You can become something you never thought you could do if you someone believes in you and you believe in yourself.

You are not what you come from

The lessons I learned from watching "The Grizzlies"

-Dont go into your first year of teaching and think " Ill whip them into shape" Your not better then them, they are there to learn from you, be the role model you would want others to be to you.
-Know the background information and culture on the students you will be teaching. There is lots to learn from the past if we want to build a better future.
- "its an epidemic , nothing can be done" Dont be like everyone else and give up on the students, not only have others given up on them, but they have given up on them selves. Give them a reason , a sense of purpose, Hope. Dont be like Mike and "Do what everyone else does...."
- "You have to go to them, You have to show respect"
- Work together as one, work together as a team. You are not in this alone"
- "Our team is a family, we have each other"
- Look beyond what is in front of you. " this isnt about you"

Lessons:
It is important to understand the culture of your students
Sometimes building a relationship is more important than the lessons
Don't give up when things get hard

-Cassy

I think this movie shows how Russ did not know what culture he was being introduced into. He learned how he can’t treat all cultures like his own, everyone has their own traditions and they need to be considered and accommodated when teaching students.

At the beginning of the movie when the principal is telling Russ how student attendance is minimal because of the seasons or other home requirements.

Russ was not aware of the hardships these students and their families faced, and continue to face with poverties and generational abuse

Russ learns how to find external motivation for the students of his class to attend and put in an effort to succeed in his class

He learned how to use all of his student's strengths to come together as a team and as a community to fundraise for the teams trip to Toronto

-As a teacher it is important to understand that each student comes from their own individual situation, whether it is good or bad you cannot judge the student on that background.
-As a teacher you create special bonds with your students that are life-long connections and this can affect the student in positive ways.
-Being a teacher is your job inside and outside school. You do not stop being a teacher after the end bell.
-How important extracurricular activities are to the joy and happiness of students.
-A teacher cannot demand respect, but rather earn it from their students overtime as they gain their trust.
-Happy kids can create happy communities.
-Students must not be judged by their parents, but rather the actions of that student.
-How small victories such as winning only one lacrosse game can impact a child's life forever and begin to influence others around them.

Lessons Learned:
You need to establish trust and respect in your relationships with your students before you can expect to reach them and teach them
Resilience is key
Being a role model and demonstrating confidence can encourage and motivate students to try new things or go out of their comfort zone
Challenging yourself in your career can make you a better teacher
Establishing relationships and always believing in your students will help them to become the best students they can be

Lessons learned:
- Don't assume your students are bad just because they aren't listening to you, some come from broken homes.
- Always be open to other cultures and earn their respect.
- Create those connections and build a community.
- Don't give up on your students.
- Be there for your students, you never know what is going on in their lives.