Building Stewardship Spirit (BSSEDU) acknowledges that the home office spaces and community spaces where we work in are on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Selílwith (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

We thank them for continuously caring for this land. We aspire to be in relationships with many Nations throughout the province, and we look forward to continuing to work with and learn from the Indigenous people in our immediate communities of Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, and New Westminster of British Columbia (BC) and to build meaningful connections and kinship with place and beings within BC and beyond.

Our services, events, workshops, development of research and implementation of programs are responding to the constant change and movements in the fields of humanities and social sciences, education, business management, human resources, self-help, and professional development.

As a way to clearly delineate our multi-phasal initiatives, The Enableum, which is a part of the broader Building Stewardship Spirit initiative, will take on the mantle to precisely and concisely address and challenge matters within the sphere of research, social sciences and humanities related to education.

The Enableum is one of the many pivotal points in the multi-phasal initiative of Building Stewardship Spirit. As such, The Enableum is defined as a Children’s Competency Program, where it is a space and place that is a means or medium to enable children, families, teachers and other stakeholders that work with children to transcend traditional norms in education through research and collaboration.

Introduction

BSSEDU (inclusive of The Enableum) exists to support community that wishes to receive support through knowledge, skills, resources and advice pertaining to matters that are changing and evolving in Canada's socio-cultural and political realm. These matters are not limited to challenges in Early Years, General Education, Truth and Reconciliation, Indigenous Education, Business Management, Human Resource Practices, Injustices in Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity.

We approach the matters mentioned above with the perspective of authenticity, which requires knowing and being of self, to live well with self to be able to live well with others. Our collective voice empowers community members who come to us to approach current news, celebrations and issues with alternate perspectives and be inspired to create beneficial impactful change within their community, neighbourhood and the larger society. While there might be occasions where our ideas put forth might come across as abstract, our position indicated within this paper is consistent with our organization’s long-term vision and values where the crux of our perspectives and actions are based on the understanding of authenticity and where diversity is pedagogy.

This position paper is a visionary document that aims to reflect on, rethink, reimagine, and challenge, and where appropriate take action on the traditional, outdated, uninformed, neo-liberalist, trending mindsets related to the perspectives, policies and current issues that we wish to address from the premise of authenticity. The paper is a declaration for BSSEDU to stay true to our vision, values and promise to all community members who place their time, attention and trust in our word, resources, events and programs.

Our Informed Practice

We are inspired by the story of Coyote’s Eyes adapted from the version found in Jo-ann Archibald's book “Indigenous Storywork: Educating the Heart, Mind, Body and Spirit” (Story is available on pages 24 to 26 of the document) as told by Terry Tafoya of the Pueblo Nation. Through the Coyote’s Eyes story, we draw parallel connections to the notion of Two-Eyed Seeing developed by Mi'kmaw Elder Albert Marshall which involves viewing the world through both Indigenous and Western ways of knowing. To that end, what BSSEDU presents through their services, events, workshops, research, and programs is an informed practice are in accordance to the story and approach indicated above.

We utilise the guidance from the Coyote’s Eyes story and Two-Eyed Seeing by first considering all aspects of the topic at hand through engaging in dialogue between BSSEDU staff members and amongst community members. Simultaneously, we would engage in researching both non-western and Eurocentric hemispheres of stories, knowledge and lived experiences related to the topic. Taking into account what was henceforth mentioned in dialogue and researched, we respond to the topic by proposing BSSEDU perspectives or actions that are informed by our modus operandi of authenticity, and diversity is pedagogy.

Our informed practice is fluid and will continually shift, evolve, and take shape in response to the climate of the ever-volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. Should our practice evolve, subsequent position papers will be published to update and supplement the first edition of this position paper.

Context for BSSEDU’s Work

The combination of lived experiences, stories, injustices, celebrations and hardships of every entity in BSSEDU serves as motivation to persist in our modus operandi. For instance, some individuals have experienced unfair, illegal or toxic situations in their workplace such as having their employment held hostage to do the unscrupulous bidding of one or a particular few individuals in higher management.

To further illuminate the context of BSSEDU’s work in another sphere of matter that we deeply care about, we would like to examine the actions taken toward Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. While the general public wishes to learn more and be able to take respectful actions towards Truth and Reconciliation, calls for action organized by the general public might only constitute as much information, knowledge and guidance directed by the governance of municipality, province or Nation.

Some calls for action might be deemed appropriate in the eyes of non-Indigenous, yet inappropriate or damaging in the eyes of some Indigenous cultures, families and/or individuals. Some individuals go through the motion of reciting the Land Acknowledgement before starting anything, as it has become a go-to standard for which templates are provided. Thereafter, a copy-edit of the template is performed to complete the Land Acknowledgement. Thus, if the individual has completed their Land Acknowledgement obligation, they can henceforth engage in all other dealings that precede.

While many more issues related to Truth and Reconciliation can be stated, this position paper is not the space to hold this discussion. The above example is one of many that define our context and cause for BSSEDU work.

As such, we strive to be the hub that community members can rely on to seek and receive sound advice, perspectives, ideas and inspiration to take responsible advocative action through our services, events, workshops, research, and programs.

BSSEDU’s Vision on the Authenticity Self with Place and Communities

First and foremost, BSSEDU’s vision is: To inspire a global movement where communities thrive through authentic connections, mutual care, and respect for all life, fostering a sustainable and inclusive world that celebrates diversity, nurtures the spirit, and redefines the meaning of kindness and gratitude in every interaction.

Thus, BSSEDU aspires to help individuals look within to become authentic without external factors that demand political correctness and social conventions upon an individual.

Becoming authentic would indicate that one can live well with oneself. When individuals can live well with themselves, they will be in a space and recognize their capacity to live well authentically with others.

Our vision will be a process that begins anew with each new being that engages with us. Through continued engagement with all beings, familiar and new, we create a supportive community of authentic beings who are empowered to inspire others on the journey of being and becoming authentic.

The notion of authenticity is our strategy that segues our efforts to bring individuals to redefine and take appropriate and respectful action in matters such as Truth and Reconciliation, Responsibility towards Place and Beings, Injustices in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusivity within personal and professional settings.

Whilst the idea of stewardship is typically immediately related to Indigenous Peoples, BSSEDU’s vision on authenticity enables the building (emergence, development and enhancement) of spirit and active role of stewardship for all members in our BSSEDU community. Authentic individuals can squarely take on issues in Truth and Reconciliation, Responsibility towards Place and Beings, and the Injustices in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusivity in their personal and professional lives. Through which, they would be capable of identifying, analyzing and weighing the relationship between self and the issue or matter at hand, and subsequently consider, discuss, and arrive at a course of responsible and respectful action.

Acknowledgements

We are thankful for the community members who have entrusted their attention, time, energy, and support to BSSEDU's services, events, workshops, research, and programs.

If you have any thoughts, curiosities, or questions, we want to hear from you. Please contact us at info@bssedu.org

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