Walking the Good Path in Life: Digital Citizenship and The Seven Grandfather Teachings

From a First Nations perspective, you ‘Walk the Good Path’ when you demonstrate The Seven Grandfather Teachings. When you live your best life, you demonstrate Truth, Love, Humility, Courage, Honesty, Respect, & Bravery.

Now, this is true in our physical worlds, as it is in our virtual and digital worlds.

We all have a responsibility to help ALL people ‘Walk the Good Path’ in life.

In terms of our Education System, our Educators, just as our Children, are in need of the Seven Grandfather Teachings to continually learn how to create positive working environments, embed culturally relevant  and culturally responsive teaching practices for our students to foster confidence, and not fear.

Every single day, educators and students need to be honoured with open communication networks with staff, parents, and the community.

All people, need:

Love and Respect to strive for a mutual understanding of our own diversity;

Bravery to engage in Holistic Education each day and learn to live in harmony with each other;

Courage to follow the very Educational Initiatives that are put into place for the betterment of our students, and our society;

Humility to admit that we don’t have all of the answers;

Truth and Honesty to help us understand initiatives such as the Aboriginal Education Strategy that are a great benefit for all students, not just those self-identified as First Nations, Metis & Inuit.

The children of today are the leaders for tomorrow.

IF we train our children well, and treat them well, and honour their voices, THEN they will feel trusted, loved, and develop the courage to walk the good path toward their futures.

It is important to truly respect others, acknowledge their good work, cultural diversity, admit mistakes, strive to attain mutual understanding, create positive working environments, foster confidence and not fear.

Tens of Thousands of Educators have such an important leadership role in raising and educating an entire generation of children for the future. Just as it takes an entire ‘Village to Raise a Child’; our children, educators and other professionals also need Love, Respect, Humility, Courage, Bravery, Honesty, and Truth to grow as human beings, and continue to make the world a better place. Not just for now, but for generations to come.

Deborah McCallum

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