Reflection Paper- Blackfoot Values

Ashley Hoisington
EDUC 4950: Kiipaitapisinnoni I & II

Aatsimoyihkaan (Prayer)

Aatsimoyihkaan is the value that discusses the importance of prayer within the Blackfoot
culture. I was not really sure what to expect when we began discussing this value; I had always
been under the impression that prayer is not to be addressed with the mainstream world, because
it is so sacred to the ways of life. I was astonished to hear about how open this value is, what
constitutes prayer, and the fact that anyone can pray to the creator if they present the proper ritual
(smudge, sincerity, specific semantics, etc.). Prayer is used daily, multiple times per day, which
is quite different from Western practices. I appreciated the discussion about why prayer is held
with such high regard- the fact that everything is built around prayer to make a meaningful
connection with the creator and the people of the past sounds incredibly fulfilling. I imagine that
this practice helps individuals remain grounded in all aspects of their life, which connects back to
previous discussions we have had about culture. Blackfoot youth need to be connected with this
practice to fully form their identity and feel that sense of connection to guide them, and it is so
unfortunate that many individuals don't have this opportunity because they feel called to live
within a mainstream context. As a non-Indigenous woman, I see many instances where
Indigenous culture is still set as second-best when put into the mainstream world. The values do
not get the deserved appreciation, which pushes a lot of youth away who do not live on the
reserve. They need to be "cool" and mainstream to fit in with their primarily white peer groups.
Aatsimoyihkaan is so powerful. The connections are so powerful, that as mentioned in
the lecture, they are more powerful than assimilation. I had to think about this for quite some
time before I felt I could write this because it was hard for me to understand how spirituality
could be more durable than the force of government muscle. It made me reflect on the
underlying root of survival; the white man survives on the dollar, the Blackfoot peoples survive
on their connection to the creator, to the land, and to each other. I wonder how different
historical interactions would have been if there was a collective value placed on prayer and
connections for survival, instead of a materialistic hierarchy of power. My biggest takeaway
from this value is the sheer power of saying thanks for the things we are given and the things we
take; this is a powerful lesson for all people and something we need to place a higher value on
within the western world.

Classroom Connection
First off, I want to mention that throughout listening to the lectures for this section on
values, I have had a recurring image in my head of incorporating most of these values into the
classroom culture to create a sense of community. Aatsimoyihkaan would hold an essential place
in my classroom- I would interpret this value as a reminder for my students to be thankful, and
always say thanks for what they receive from others. I think it would be difficult to focus on the
prayer aspect in a school context that is off reserve because we must be cognizant of the religious
and cultural diversities. That being said, it is a common belief across the board that we should
always ask before we take something, and then be thankful for what we receive. Tying in this
value could create a space where the students gain a meaningful understanding of why we must
do this, and the importance of being connected with each other and with the spaces we inhabit. I

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think students would feel a more profound sense of responsibility to ask and say thanks if they
had something to connect with- if they understood that we need to be thankful for what we have
to survive in harmony with one another.

Kimmapiiypitsinni (Kindness/ Compassion)

In my mind, Kimmapiiypitsinni is one of the most important values, especially when it

comes to interacting with our inner selves and the people around us. This value places a lot of
importance on the promotion of human and collective rights to better society and the interactions
between individuals. This requires a clear perspective and an internalized understanding of the
different gifts that each person possesses. I really like how the word itself breaks down into the
words pity, characteristic, and way of life; in my mind, this reflects how choosing kindness and
compassion is a way of life that you choose. When you choose to be kind, you are accepting
others for who they are, and you then can understand where they come from. Kindness is all
about giving what you can, whether that be material or intellectual support. I love the idea that
"kindness provides health to the emotions." By showing kindness, we can take care of the people
around us, no matter who they are or where they come from. That being said, I think it is also
essential to take care of our own emotions by showing ourselves kindness as well. It is hard to
give away what we cannot give to ourselves.
Kimmapiiypitsinni reminds us to acknowledge our differences, and then celebrate them. I
find it hard to discuss this value in terms of itself because so many of the teachings related to
Kimmapiiypitsinni are also associated with Innakotsiiysinni (respect- see below). This is part of
the beauty within the Blackfoot values; they are all interrelated, and to have a meaningful
existence, you must embody them. When you represent these values, you are simultaneously
incorporating a multitude of behaviours and attitudes into your life to ensure you can make
connections with the people around you. This makes me think back to the section about natural
law and karma. The creator knows if you are not fulfilling your responsibility as a part of the
community. There are so many aspects of this value that most people carry with them on a day-
to-day basis, but Kimmapiiypitsinni becomes exceptionally crucial for us as educators.

Classroom Connection
This value is especially relevant for educators. As a pre-service teacher, I need to embody
this value in my own personal life, and then bring it into the classroom in a meaningful way. It is
more than just simply being kind to my students and co-workers, it's about having kindness at the
root of our classroom culture and setting a tone for the space in which students exhibit kindness
to each other and themselves. I mentioned above that we need to show ourselves kindness, and I
made a comment about how it is difficult to give away what we cannot give to ourselves. This
goes for our students as well; it is hard to know the exact context of every student when you first
cross paths with them, each student has their own unique story and situation; we cannot expect
our students to give away what they have never received. It is essential to emulate kindness and
compassion for a multitude of reasons: we must model what this looks like for students so they
can do the same, we must create a safe and caring space for them to develop and make mistakes,
and we must also do this for the betterment of the whole child. Children flourish when they are
treated with love and kindness, and in a classroom setting, we must set them up for success. Let's
be honest, no one goes into education for the money, we go into this field because we care about

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kids and want to make a difference; Kimmapiiypitsinni should be inherent to who we are as
individuals, to begin with.
This value relates to our pedagogical practices as well. When we keep this value in our
minds, we also want to think of fairness. This connects with our understanding of, and how we
design assessment. We must also consider the circle of experiences that our students carry with
them; we cannot take for granted their past experiences or background knowledge. This is
especially true within the context of on-reserve schools, where many students may not have
access to off-reserve experiences that you may take for granted in your own life. As teachers, we
must recognize and understand the diversity within our classroom, and then use those things to
help build relationships in a kind and compassionate way. Students need to feel valued and safe.
They need to feel cared for and respected. These things are all apart of Kimmapiiypitsinni, and
we must always remember to meet our students where they are and speak their language; this is
the first step to embodying this value in an educational context if we want to foster growth and
resiliency within our students.

Innakotsiiysinni (Respect for Others)

Innakotsiiysinni is the Blackfoot value that teaches respect for others. I think that this
value and Kimmapiiypitsinni are two of the most essential values of interacting with others. I
was really taken by the fact that within the Blackfoot culture, everyone is born deserving respect
from all, it is unlike the western ideas of respect where youngsters must earn respect. Under this
value, you inherently have and deserve respect, but it is up to you to maintain that respect; if you
treat someone poorly or falter from withholding these other values, you can lose that respect. In
addition to this point, I loved that respect is not just respect for the people around you like it is in
the western definition; respect is marked by a deep respect for others, ourselves, the land, and the
creator. This value is marked by how you interact with your surroundings.
As I mentioned above, I found the parallels between this and Kimmapiiypitsinni to be
uncanny. It was fascinating how both of these words end with "sinni" which is the fragment that
means "way of life." Both kindness and respect are characteristics that you need to value and
hold to your core, they need to be essential in your own way of life to make a meaningful
difference. Respect places a high value on each individual and values every unique aspect of
people; there is so much beauty in diversity, and we need to appreciate, honour, and respect the
fact that every person comes with his/her own special gift. I think it is so powerful how the
Blackfoot people do not decipher who deserves more or less respect- each person is entitled to
the same amount because the creator put us here, and survival depends on the belief in the
collective strength of each individual; this is the absolute opposite of the mainstream beliefs
where everything operates in a hierarchy. When every individual feels respected, the collective
becomes more robust, which allows for a high functioning community. I feel like the core of this
value revolves around care for others, this is so similar to kindness, and I would argue that you
cannot have a way of life that carries kindness and compassion without also holding
Innakotsiiysinni close to your heart. Respect is fundamental to everything we do in life, no
matter who or what we are interacting with- all interactions must operate with a certain level of
respect.

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Classroom Connection
I really appreciated how much of the discussion with this value revolved around its place
in the classroom. Mutual respect between teacher and student, student and student, or classroom
and the rest of the school is absolutely fundamental to guiding our students in a positive
direction. The notion that respect is inherent within us is challenging to the mainstream teacher
to student dynamic; most of our lives, we are told we must earn respect from our elders, teachers,
parents, etc. If we adopted this notion of inherent respect, our students would feel much more
successful because they will never feel as if they are walking on eggshells to please you- this is
NOT the way to build a strong relationship with our students. Students should walk into your
classroom and instantly feel this sense of respect, appreciation, and care. Students should have a
place within the classroom where they feel levelled in power- there is no reason to have any sort
of power struggle because we all have a space in which we are respected. I am a big believer in
equity over equality; however, in this instance, we want equality.
Students are all different, and no matter what those differences might be, they are all
capable of success. Showing your students that you genuinely believe in them is critical. A big
part of setting a respectful classroom culture is to set the tone, so all of our students understand
that everyone is the best at something, we all learn at different paces, we all learn in different
ways, we will all reach the same end, and it does not matter who gets there first or last. Learning
should not be a competition, but a lot of western ideas of education make students feel this way. I
appreciate the idea of building in this respect through assessment and grading- there should be no
differentiation between an A and a B mark, this takes away from the meaningful learning
journey. Students should strive to fulfill their own expectations and give their individual value
the respect it deserves. I am imagining all of the sumptuous benefits that our students would see
if we really dug deep into a pedagogy that uses two-eyed seeing as its base; we need to put the
same value on these Indigenous ways of teaching and learning as we do on western ideas. If we
brought together and infused our pedagogy with aspects of both views, our students would see
the respect, we are giving to different ways of doing things. Respect is fundamental in creating
success for our students, and it starts with our own actions. As educators, we need to ensure we
model and demonstrate the kind of respect we want to see in our classroom, giving students a
meaningful place to start.

Ihpipototsp (Purpose for Being There)

I think that this value was the one I was most excited to learn more about because its
translation has so many different meanings. The purpose for being there could mean so many
different things, and I wasn't really sure what to expect from this section. I was so excited to
learn that Ihpipototsp is all about the purpose we carry through our lives and the tools that we are
given to fulfill this purpose. I found the connections to the creator to be quite meaningful for my
own learning- the creator has a particular goal in mind for your life, and he then gives you tools
to fulfill that purpose- some of these tools are things you are born with, and others are delivered
to you through the transfer of knowledge or through different life experiences. This value quite
literally breaks down into “we were given tools,” which solidifies this intense and powerful
connection with the creator. It's interesting to think about how many people often feel lost about
what their purpose really is, and for others, they are called to it instantly. I have always known I
wanted to teach- my purpose was rooted deep in my existence; this is not the case for everyone. I
wonder why the creator gives some people such a direct path and doesn't do this for others. I

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wonder if the struggles to find your purpose are part of the tools you are being given, helping to
develop your life experiences and attitudes towards different expectations from mainstream
society. Tools to succeed are placed for us to be successful in various contexts. I found it
interesting how so many aspects of culture come together under this value: Blackfoot knowledge,
ways of life, communication, cultural practices, language, and prayer. These things are all
heavily connected with the spiritual world, which holds an important place in receiving and
using your tools.

Classroom Connection
I feel like this value connects more profoundly with my professional life, and slightly less
with actual classroom connections. That being said, there is definitely place within the classroom
context to talk about purpose and to discuss the gifts we are given to succeed; this goes back to
many of the other values and connects with different aspects within. All of our students are
unique, and we must help them to understand that each of them is important and have their own
individual purpose that might not be like the student next to them. This is an essential thing for
students to internalize, we all have our own paths. The values are interconnected, and it is crucial
to bring them together when helping our students understand this value.
This section really made me think deeply about my purpose as an educator- why have I
been called to do this work? I couldn’t answer this question at this point in my career, but I can
tell you that I have a deep-rooted purpose in education, because I have never even thought of
doing anything else with my life. I found it quite powerful to think about how I am being steered
in this direction, and I found it quite calming to internalize the belief that everything is
happening to me for a reason- these are tools from the creator to ensure my success. This belief
is something I can connect with in a meaningful way, and I think that more people should be
exposed to this idea because it makes the unknown feel safer. I will be able to make peace with
the way of life I have been gifted and use it to deepen my relationships both in and out of the
classroom environment. Not only will this value make me a better teacher, but it will also make
me a better friend, a better partner, and a better daughter. By gaining a deeper understanding of
this value, I can confidently say that I will carry this learning with me throughout various
interactions, both positive and negative, because I now know that my volition is the sharpest tool
I possess.

Niitsitapiysinni (To be Blackfoot)

This value was exciting to learn about because it ties in so much of our previous learning and
brings everything together. Niitsitapiysinni is understood as the value that encompasses all of the
Blackfoot culture, history, and what it means to be Blackfoot. Many of the values meet under
this one, saying, "this is how you become a good Blackfoot person." I thought it was eye-
opening to reflect on how different the ways of life were before the Europeans came, and I found
it interesting that this value breaks down into “real,” “people, and “way of life.” I didn’t really
consider it until this course, but the Blackfoot people had never had interactions with other
cultures- everyone they came across looked like them, so it only makes sense that they coined
this value using the term “real people.”
Niitsitapiysinni places massive importance on culture and serves to remind the
community that their culture is worthy and valued. This value has deep connections to the time
of residential schools, the 60s scoop, and other harsh assimilation policies that dehumanized and

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tore pieces out of the culture from individuals and the larger collective. This value is meant to
highlight the uniqueness of the culture and show individuals that they should be proud and
celebrate who they are, instead of losing confidence in their roots. The Blackfoot culture, and
place, is more durable than the government policies. As I mentioned above, this value
encompasses so many different areas of culture, and brings together many of the other values;
what I found to be most impactful is how this ties back to the connections with the creator, and
relationship with the land- these are related to the gifts that the creator gives to survive. This
value also helps to give meaning to the cultural practices, allowing the younger people to ground
themselves in spirituality; this puts meaning behind practices and provides for the use of
Blackfoot intellect to make the right decisions. "Think proud, think purpose, and think
Blackfoot;" this statement sums up this value concisely and directly, highlighting its purpose.

Classroom Connection
This value is of particular importance, especially in an on-reserve school context. This
value would help to ground students and show them a sense of purpose and pride in their culture.
As an educator, it is my job to be cognizant of where my students come from, and to best support
my Blackfoot students, I need to have a full understanding of this value. In my mind, I would
connect this with aspects of culturally responsive teaching- using my student's background and
including appropriate cultural references to encourage meaning-making. By incorporating
Niitsitapiysinni, I can show my students that their traditional ways of knowing, and cultural
practices are interconnected and help them become the best versions of themselves. Aspects of
culture, connection, language, and wisdom would be intertwined throughout all aspects of the
curriculum.
That being said, this value is just as crucial for schools off-reserve. As I have mentioned
above, off-reserve schools are filled with an incredibly diverse group of students. This value
would allow me to explore aspects of the Blackfoot culture with these students to guide them
towards understanding. By bringing Blackfoot ways of life to the forefront in an off-reserve
classroom, I would support my non-Indigenous students with their learning and support my
Indigenous students in a multitude of ways. Not only this, but I also think this value could be
used to access an understanding of other cultures as well- I could see this happening in a way
that students could take inspiration from this value, and do some work digging into themselves as
well- what makes you valuable? What makes you unique? What would you want others to know
about you? Etc. I see this as a project to help students discover the value of the Blackfoot culture,
while also recognizing the value in each other; this would then help to connect with different
values.
As far as my professional development goes, I think this value encompasses a lot of the
historical knowledge that we should have as educators. To fully commit to this value, we must
tap into our own background knowledge, be open to learning more from different historical
perspectives, and learn more from the land. I also love how this value tackles the "worth" of
culture, making people realize that there is absolutely nothing inferior or wrong with being
Blackfoot. With this knowledge in mind, I feel like I could embody this understanding and
compassion for the individuals who might not feel connected. This is especially important when
interacting with students, colleagues and parents.

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Aksitoiyipaitapiiysiini (Being able to take on tasks independently)

The value of Aksitoiyipaitapiiysiini represents the value and need for people to take on
tasks independently. Basically, this is the belief that we must rely on ourselves and be able to
carry ourselves through challenges that we may come across. I think it is vital for people to have
their own two feet to stand on, it is hard when you become dependent on someone else because it
takes away your sense of autonomy and choice. When reflecting on this value, I found myself
thinking of autonomy, and its place within the Blackfoot culture- I noticed myself connecting to
the fact that even in today's context, there is little autonomy when it comes to the government
restrictions on reserve life. I wonder if this is part of the reason that Aksitoiyipaitapiiysiini is
held as a value; it is crucial for people to be independent and have the ability to make decisions,
and take on tasks independently in their personal lives because the greater community context is
highly restricted (and has been throughout history) by government policies. It is also important to
note that this value encompasses your ability to set a path (or goal) for yourself, and follow
through with compassion to succeed; part of this is the reflection on traditional practices to guide
you and influence the solutions you come up with for various problems you may encounter- this
develops wisdom as well.
This value also reflects on and relates back to survival- you must be skilled at analyzing a
situation and taking time to process and reflect before reacting to avoid a rash decision. It is
encouraged to try something, and then try a new method if the first (or fourth) does not work.
These mistakes and growth are encouraged.

Classroom Connection
This value connects with many aspects of classroom culture that I am passionate about. I
think it is incredibly important for students to develop a sense of independence, and in turn,
confidence in their own abilities. Students should be given plenty of opportunities to develop and
practice the skills needed to make an informed decision, this can be done through different
avenues. I believe that for early elementary, it would be so beneficial to incorporate this learning
into play. Besides, we talk about autonomy and student choice in our education program, which
is inherently connected to the value. I think this value would be mostly built into the classroom
culture, but it would also be important to explicitly teach the skills necessary to become skilled
in this.
I also mentioned how this value encourages growth through repeated trials, which
connects with the classroom as well. I am a firm believer in the fact that mistakes are healthy,
mistakes are important, and mistakes are OK. I think mistakes should be encouraged so students
can learn to problem solve and develop their flexible thinking. I have made this connection with
Aksitoiyipaitapiiysiini because it talks a lot about growing the wisdom to make decisions, and
you cannot build knowledge and learn by doing everything correctly the first time.
When I think of my own professional and personal life, this value is essential because I need to
have the drive and motivation to do my work. I cannot rely on someone else to help me pass my
classes and become a teacher- that is my own journey, and I must be accountable for my own
successes and failures. I need to be able to take on tasks independently both in and out of the
classroom setting- I view this as a sort of life skill that all individuals should practice daily.

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Isspommaanitapiiysinni (Being helpful to others)

This value comes from cultural practices that have been happening since time
immemorial, which provides a deep connection to the Blackfoot people's sacred societies.
Isspommaanitapiiysinni calls for each of us to act as a resource for other people, to be helpful to
those around us, and to have compassion for the collective group (we all have a unique role). I
found it almost comforting to learn about the roots of this value- how from time immemorial
individuals have always looked out for one another, the elders and parents looked out for and
taught children, the young men joined the Brave Dogs to keep peace and order in the community,
and then the Horns Society acted as the warrior group to protect. Helping others is an essential
part of the Blackfoot culture to support the collective survival of the tribe and clans.
Remembering that while you can help others, it does not align with this value if you are doing so
for selfish reasons. When helping others, you must do so with compassion and make an effort to
connect through that help. Through this value, you build karma that you will benefit from later
on; from my understanding, it is vital to establish this karma for non-selfish reasons. The creator
will know if you are doing something with bad intentions, you should always do these things for
the benefit of the community and for survival, not for your own personal gains.

Classroom Connection
I feel like a big part of becoming a teacher is my desire to help others; this value,
Isspommaanitapiiysinni, needs to be a central focus when it comes to building relationships with
students and developing a caring and safe classroom climate. There is so much that happens in a
classroom that related to this value. The list is almost endless. That being said, in my mind, the
most important ones are connecting to the building relationships that I mentioned, as well as
aspects of instruction. Part of helping students become successful is to meet them where they are
(in all four areas of life) and accept them for who they are instead of what you think they should
be like. It is crucial to help students in the areas they need most and to be compassionate towards
them- this is a big part of creating a connection between you and the student. If a student feels
judged or "less than," because of your approach to helping them, you aren't effectively aligning
your practices with this value. It is vital to develop a diverse repertoire of the ways you show
help, kindness, and empathy because each student is different and will likely need different
approaches.
This value also relates to the various teaching strategies that you may use. I really liked
the connection of this value with mastery learning. It goes back to traditional practices when
mastery was needed for survival; students learned what they needed to, at their own pace, and
likely getting different levels of help depending on where they are at. I feel like this is a great
way to approach a classroom because we still see so many different levels of ability, but all
students can learn in their own ways. Another aspect of this that I was thinking about was the
teacher's role in helping students in the classroom- how much help should we really give? I find
myself leaning towards less help in some cases because it helps to boost student confidence in
their own abilities. I like the term productive struggle- I shouldn't do for them what I know they
can do themselves. Every moment is a teachable moment, and I think it is useful to have students
look to their peers for help. It is a valuable skill to know how to effectively help someone, and in
early elementary, this is especially crucial!

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Ao’ahkannaistokawa (Everything comes in pairs)

Initially, I found this value challenging to wrap my head around. Part of me was unsure
about how this fits in with the other values because I couldn't see the connection at first. When it
got down to it, I came to understand Ao’ahkannaistokawa as a way to put the world into
perspective and make sense of the negative. It seems like there is so much negative (or bad) in
the world, but it is important to find the good. I had always thought of this binary thinking as
restrictive, but in this sense, it allows for individuals to gain a deeper understanding of the way
life works, and to internalize multiple perspectives on a situation; I envision this value
representing a continuum of sorts, instead of a "one or the other" representation. Part of
Ao’ahkannaistokawa is also the ability to take things with stride and withhold reaction until you
have had ample time to consider and ponder. You are given the ability to make decisions through
grounding and gifts from the creator- these gifts come in various forms, as I mentioned in the
section on Ihpipototsp. These gifts manifest themselves as specks of wisdom that help you form
opinions that reflect your individual purpose. I now understand the importance of this value,
because it gives perspective on situations that may be difficult to handle, such as a temptation to
participate in bad medicine. This value also reflects the freedom of choice, autonomy if you will,
to create your own path and deal with said consequences if you are not successful. This
importantly relates to Aksitoiyipaitapiiysiini, because you cannot remain dependent on others to
make choices for you. It is easy to get caught up in a society filled with so many binaries and
seek dependency- will you choose hot or cold? Left, or right? Up or down? Traditional, or
mainstream? Etc. I think this value has a firm place in the Blackfoot culture because it all comes
back to the connection with the creator; the creator holds the principle of developing into a good
person highly.

Classroom Connection
As much as I took from this value, I found it challenging to think of classroom
connections. This value is not as straightforward as some of the others, but after reflecting, I
have come to understand that it has a deep root in my own practices. I think it is essential to
consider alternative perspectives on the situation, and as a teacher, you need to carefully consider
the way you react to things. This value reminds me to always take a step back and consider
multiple perspectives on a situation, because it may be more complicated than choosing left or
right. This is something valuable to teach students as well. Considering various perspectives is
needed when using critical thinking to solve a problem, and this is a trait that we work hard to
equip students with, especially in our modern-day context, filled with so much "fake news."
This value also had me reflecting on a course I had taken through the CRCPD, a Weaving
Ways course, in which we talked about Etuaptmumk, or two-eyed seeing, which is a term coined
by Albert Marshall a Mi'kmaq elder. Two-eyed seeing serves as a prompt to always consider
multiple perspectives but focuses mainly on respecting differences and finding common ground
between them. This practice uses one eye to show Indigenous perspectives, and the other to show
western views. The hope is to find a synthesis between these to produce wholeness and
meaningful representation. This is something I hope to carry through my educational career as a
reminder that everything has multiple perspectives. I feel like this approach deeply connects with
Ao’ahkannaistokawa because it is an effort to find a middle ground that respects and appreciates
two binary options (I personally struggle with the idea of seeing western and Indigenous as a
binary, because learning about the Blackfoot culture has shown so many overlaps- we aren’t

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100% different, but also not 100% the same). Ao’ahkannaistokawa and two-eyed seeing will
help me as a professional and help me make learning meaningful for students who do not see
themselves in the mainstream culture.

Ihkanaitapstsiwa (Everything that is given to a person to do what they want with)

Ihkanaitapstsiwa is the value that represents the importance of opportunity, change, and
improvement. The core of this value is deeply connected with the gifts that the creator gives, it
talks about how everything that is directed towards you is provided so that you can decide what
to do with it. You have the choice and ability to create success for yourself in the way you feel is
right. Your connection with the creator is a big part of this because you take what the creator
gives and use the other values to decipher the right choice to make. From my understanding, you
have the right to choose your own destiny- this allows you to express your autonomy within this
community. That being said, this value has another facet that considers the community impact of
decisions; it depends on your context, of course, but to be regarded as a good Blackfoot person,
you must always take into consideration the choice that will provide betterment and never settle
for just "OK." This value calls for constant improvement, improvement in which you take
responsibility for. You must take this responsibility and act independently whenever possible, so
you do not become complacent or dependent.
I thought it was interesting to see how this value operates within the parameters of the
Law of Dissent that takes away some aspects of self-determination. I still find it quite interesting
to hear how this works- being accountable and having to comply with three layers of government
seems complex in certain situations (like the casinos that we talked about earlier in the course).
That being said, from my narrow understanding of this, it seems as if the laws of dissent give
some power to the community to make important choices for themselves regarding various social
services. However, I am left wondering about the differences in attendance policies on and off-
reserve. I wonder why there is a strict authority over students and their attendance practices off-
reserve, such authority that further action can be taken, but they do not have this same ability on
reserve. When it comes to education on the reserves, I think this value plays a huge role in
blending cultural practices and pedagogy with the Alberta curriculum; culture, language and
community practices have been given by the creator since time immemorial. It is up to the
people to decide how to use these gifts positively, and from my perspective, I see this happening
through stories of the reserve schools.

Classroom Connection
As a future teacher, the aspect of this value that I feel I connect with most is that it calls
for you to be in charge of your own decision making, and connects with the idea that you can
control your path (or your destiny) to some extent. I think this is something essential to
remember as I work through this journey to become an educator because I will often be faced
with difficult situations, or experiences, in which I must take the time to make the decision that
will have the most significant benefit on those around me. I think this is important to remember
in the classroom as well- you may have the most perfect lesson plan, but you need to respond to
the students and change, adapt and improve your approach to benefit their learning. At the end of
the day, the perfect lesson is useless if your students are not engaged. While still staying true to
the core of this value, I also think about flexible thinking as a skill to develop in myself and
model for my students. It is crucial for us to always remember that we are in charge of our

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decisions (good and bad), and we must face the consequences. That being said, students need to
gain confidence in their ability to engage in this process; they need to know that it is celebrated
when we alter our thinking or make a decision to change something for the better. As a teacher, I
need to always strive for improvement, and not let myself get stuck and become complacent with
the way things are; I cannot let my students learn that "just OK" is good enough! This is a value I
need to work on with myself because I find myself resistant to change in many areas, but I know
that this value will help me to become a better teacher.

Kakyosin (Be aware of your environment, be observant)

This value has close parallels to aspects of Ihkanaitapstsiwa, parallels that call for care
and attention to the decision-making process, as well as the advancement of yourself and your
community. Kakyosin reminds us to observe and find a deeper understanding and alternate
visions within our environment; we must be aware of what is happening around us to make the
best decisions we can. This value really is a sort of "follow up" to the last one, because it echoes
many of the core concepts. You must be aware of the things happening around you, be cognizant
of the totality of your space (both physically and mentally) and be open to change. It is essential
that we don't become satisfied with the status quo because culture and sacred practices could be
susceptible to mainstream influences. These things are of the utmost importance to the Blackfoot
people, and they must be maintained to have the best environment possible. I spent quite some
time reflecting on Kakyosin and Ihkanaitapstsiwa; they are both intertwined and connected with
many other values. It is understood that success is dependent on the health of the community-
which is affected by these values. Kakyosin insists that you be aware of the world around you
and be mindful of things happening both within and outside of your community. You must
address matters that are happening, whether they bring a positive or negative impact; it is part of
internalizing a deeper understanding of what harms and progresses life. Also, a big part of this
value is identifying new skills and knowledge to change the dialogue of oppression and the
effects of colonization. This value is all about the betterment of the community to move away
from these harmful narratives. Change is an integral part of the Blackfoot culture, and it must
remain at the forefront of our minds because our world changes every day.

Classroom Connection
This value holds significant importance when it comes to my own professional
development journey. As teachers, we are legally obligated to remain lifelong learners and be
cognizant of various pedagogical practices that best suit our students' needs. As a teacher, I need
to welcome change if it will benefit my students; it is literally part of my job description that I
will make changes where necessary to support the individual needs of learners. In my mind, I am
connecting this back to aspects of Isspommaanitapiiysinni because I must always strive to help
my students in a way that supports the whole child. I need to practice a constant loop of
reflection and be open to responding to what is happening in my environment (community,
country, or world). By continually looking for ways to improve and change, I will always be
learning and always be trying new things that could benefit my students and colleagues. Positive
change comes from this sort of reflection; it is absolutely critical that I look to others, look to the
research, and push for reliance on other perspectives.
By embodying a constant loop of reflection, I can encourage this trait/ skill for my
students as well. I view this value as something that connects with the ability to become a critical

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thinker, which is necessary in our world. I wonder how my classroom could look if I challenge
my students to find new ways of doing “old” things- challenging them to step beyond the
expected results or processes.

Pommotsiiysinni (To transfer something to others- knowledge, etc.)

This last value was another one that I was really looking forward to because it seems
especially relevant to teaching and learning; initially, I was expecting this value to centre around
these things, but I found it impactful to learn that the transfer is so much bigger than just
knowledge from teacher to student. The root words are “pomma," which means a transfer, and
"tsiiysinni," which means the way of life; Pommotsiiysinni is the value that represents the
importance of the transfer of knowledge, objects, culture, language, and other aspects of
Blackfoot life from one individual to another to ensure survival. The people who transfer these
things have special rights to do so, this is important to remember. You must be given these rights
as a gift from the creator for giving your time and energy to the community and committing
yourself to learn this sacred knowledge. You must have the "credentials" to teach or pass things
along. For this context, we focused mostly on the transfer of knowledge, which is our "object" as
teachers. It is important for those of us who do not have the right to transfer this knowledge to be
careful of what we do with it; we must use this knowledge for our own self-advancement, to
develop our own character and push us towards becoming a better person in all aspects. We must
be cognizant of how our actions can impact the use of this knowledge because many areas could
tempt us towards using it for bad. The creator has given this knowledge to the people who have
the rights to share it, and the creator will know if you misuse the gifts you are given.
This value encompasses a bit of each value- they all come together under
Pommotsiiysinni to give a broad guide to life. All values come together to provide us with a
better understanding of the world and formulate a plan for advancement, learning, and action. I
found it impactful to reflect on how everything is sequenced in a particular way for a specific
reason, just like these values. The knowledge that is spoken about through this value is called
living knowledge because it remains fluid and changes gradually; things are not the same as they
were in the Dog Days, the language and practices have evolved to satisfy what is happing in this
environment while maintaining the core beliefs.

Classroom Connection
It is hard to connect this value directly to the classroom because I think this relates more
to my own professional development and my own practices. Pommotsiiysinni is something to
always remember when sharing stories or teaching others about something; you cannot share
something that does not belong to you, even if it fits the context. This is something I feel like lots
of people struggle with- we get told a story or see something happen, and when applicable, we
connect back to that situation to find a solution. Through this, we often share the story with
others who were not privy to the information; it violates a sense of trust and respect built through
relationships when you share a story that you do not have the right to share. The same goes for
this knowledge that I have gained from this class- I do not have any rights to transfer this to
someone else, I am not an expert and my scope of knowledge is so narrow. Even though I have
connected with and internalized so much information, I need to be careful about what I do with
it. Through teaching, this is something I will always hold close- you are often privy to a lot of
confidential information that cannot be shared without jeopardizing the safety of a student or

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colleague. This value will remain in my mind throughout my career and serve as a reminder to
only transfer knowledge and share things that I have the right to do. In a sense, I think the
practical implications of this value can be seen in the confidentiality and privacy acts that we
hold to a high standard in this field.
I also think that this value holds great importance for me because it shows the
interconnected nature of the Blackfoot culture and helps me to further understand and learn. It all
goes back to the creator, and a sense of purpose and belonging can be found in each value; they
all play an important role in forming a good person. In a sense I feel like as a teacher I need to
embody these values and others to help my students become the best versions of themselves; in a
way, I need to act as a guiding beacon for them, and model how to become a good person who is
successful (especially in the early elementary classroom). By obtaining my University degree in
education, I am given the credentials, the right to transfer knowledge to my students, and I must
do so in a way that will be meaningful and appropriate for each of them no matter what their
background is. This value also enhances my own belief that changing your opinion, the way you
do something, or the way you understand the world should be normalized because the world is
continuously evolving. This value has taught me the importance of this because it reflects how
culture and values have changed since time immemorial because they need to reflect on what is
happening in the world; we cannot strive to improve and move forward if we cannot change our
opinions or beliefs.
At the beginning of this section, I did mention that I found this value to be most impactful
in the context of my own learning and teaching, but I do think there is importance to be found in
passing along these attitudes to my students. My students need to learn the importance of being
trustworthy and not sharing information that is not yours to share or to help guide others who
need it, or even to internalize the fact that it is OK, in fact, it is encouraged to change your
opinions and change the way you do something if it means a better experience for yourself or
those around you. Most of the values present essential lessons that we try to teach students,
whether we do it intentionally or not, and some of these values presented me with new ideas to
ponder.
I am looking forward to progressing through my education journey in a way that I can
carry my learning forward and use this given knowledge to guide me in the right direction.

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