Educator celebrates 26 years of living her passion
- EFN Staff | March 29, 2017
Education is often a major contributor to opportunity. For Rosalena Smith, it has become a lifelong passion.
This year will mark her 26th year in education, with 19 as an educator, consultant, Vice Principal and the Principal of Minahik Waskahigan School.
“We have so many challenges living in the North. A lot of those challenges come from the breakdown of family. Residential School experiences, loss of trust, issues with alcohol and drugs, the rapid advancement of technology all create changes in the family dynamic that need to be looked at carefully by educators and the system of education.”
At the age of 19, she started working at the local high school as a home and school coordinator. She worked directly with youth, families and teachers offering programs, and attendance support. “I would often make home visits, I had no car, and it wouldn’t matter how cold it was outside, I would walk from house to house to make those visits.” It wasn’t easy to make ends meet living in a two bedroom log cabin with no power or indoor plumbing raising two small children. “It was a difficult road. It takes time.”
After seven years Rosalena had reached the top of what she could do with the position that she held. She applied to Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP) to pursue her post-secondary education. Rosalena moved to Prince Albert. Having never lived away from her home community of Pinehouse she faced a number of challenges. “I had no knowledge of city systems, how they function. I didn’t know how to drive in the city. I really had to overcome that. I had one route by the river where it was not busy and I would drive there back and forth. It was the only road I felt safe on, and could still get myself to school.”
In the middle of her studies, Rosalena had a daughter. “I had Angela right when I was supposed to intern. I had no daycare, no preschool. My Mom and my sister would catch rides every other week from Pinehouse so I could attend University. Without their support I never would have completed.” Having attended SUNTEP, Rosalena was lucky to have encountered a very different structure from a standard educational institution. “I was allowed to take my newborn to class with me. The faculty would support me and look after my baby when I needed to be in a lecture. I was surrounded by an amazing group of people who inspired me to keep going. I was set up to succeed.”
Access to traditional food was another aspect that she didn’t anticipate to be an issue. “I needed to continue to nourish myself and my children with traditional food. It wasn’t just about wanting the comfort of something from home, but also about cost savings. I was very fortunate to have family who would send me food from home.”
After graduation, Rosalena was immediately offered a position in Prince Albert. But that wasn’t where her heart was. “I knew I could only give my very best in my own community, it would have been a disconnect for me to try to work somewhere else.”
While working, Rosalena has continued to add to her education. In 2010 she completed her Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She is currently working on her second Masters in Northern Governance. “My goal is to compile research on graduation rates for Aboriginal students. I want to know why people drop out of the system. What can we do to improve our outcomes to ensure that students get their grade twelve? The kids in our community are highly intelligent, they deserve the best possible chance to succeed.”
When thinking about what it takes to be successful, Rose offers this advice:
“Don’t be afraid to take risks, never, ever be afraid. Choosing to sit at home and not take that risk is going to create failure. Be persistent. It’s not an easy road, it can be a difficult process. Persistence and commitment is what will make it or break it for you. Maturity is key. When I think about myself, and my life, I think about my commitment to learning, to myself.”