Rita Bouvier's passion for education nurtured at early age
- Andréa Ledding | March 21, 2014
A writer, teacher, poet, and advocate, Rita Bouvier has made countless contributions locally, nationally and internationally. At the Indspire Awards this month, she will fittingly be honoured with the Education Award. Born and raised in Ile-a-La-Crosse, she used to play school with her cousin Josie and their younger siblings and cousins.
"We could hardly wait for school to be over so we could start the day all over again with our own school. We would conduct it in this little shed our grandfather had."
She was a born teacher. She would go onto the University of Saskatchewan where she would receive her Master's degree in education, teach in northern Saskatchewan and in Saskatoon, and then become involved in developing SUNTEP, a partnership between Gabriel Dumont Institute and the U of S to educate Métis educators. She eventually becomes director.
She counts this collaborative initiative as one of her greatest achievements. She also held senior administrative positions with the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation and the Canadian Council on Learnings Aboriginal Learning Knowledge Centre, working at the College of Education, Aboriginal Education Research Centre at the U of S campus.
She currently works as an educational consultant supporting the development of various programs and initiatives. Most recently she served on the Joint Task Force to Improve Education and Employment Outcomes for First Nations and Métis students.
She is also a researcher. Collaborating with others at the U of S, an area of interest has been on bilingual and bicultural immersion school programs in Cumberland House and Clearwater River Dene First Nation.
She has also published two books of poetry along the way, and has collaborated with others in academic writing - most recently she wrote the foreword for fellow educator Dr. Maria Battiste's latest book, Decolonizing Education. She also volunteers on the "SAWCI" (Saskatchewan Aboriginal Writers Circle Inc.) board, and with Iskwewuk-I-Wichiwitochik, Women Walking Together, an organization that advocates for missing and murdered women and their families.
She says not only is it an honor to be nominated for this award, which has gone to many other outstanding leaders, but also very humbling. But she sees this as an opportunity to highlight the importance of education and lifelong learning.
"A strong identity is important to the success of young people and that includes language and cultural identity for First Nations and Métis students," she notes. She continues to serve her community through her dedication, her gifts, her training, and her quiet passion.
She is always quick to credit others, promoting the importance of relationship, mentorship, leadership, and grassroots efforts. These all serve to promote the importance of her life's work: to support the educational needs of Aboriginal students and to advocate with others for systemic changes, specifically in mainstream educational institutions, so the history and knowledge shared reflects and serve all Canadian citizens.
"We need to intensify our efforts, not just for First Nations and Métis people, but for everyone in our province, so we can understand each other and work together."
She receives the award today at the National gala event in Winnipeg.