Conversations about Well-Being: Charlene Bearhead
By drawing on the knowledge of many voices who are working to foster well-being for our students, we will strive to establish a common understanding about promoting and supporting well-being for all students. In these clips, Charlene Bearhead the first education lead for the National Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) at the University of Manitoba represents one voice. She talks about creating positive learning environments, integrating learning across the curriculum, supporting educators and staff in schools, and valuing diverse perspectives.
What Does Well-Being Mean to You?
Charlene asks viewers to think about the value of looking after their spirituality and the connection between what children are learning in school and what they are learning in the home and community.
Positive Learning Environments
Charlene talks about the importance of students learning the value of themselves from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous teachers and staff. She talks about taking an Indigenous perspective in how we value each other, the significance of modeling genuine respect and valuing uniqueness within diversity.
Positive Relationships
Charlene talks about the variety of types of relationships and the importance of asking students and parents what they need out of the relationships in order to feel safe and ready to learn.
Reaching All
Charlene emphasizes the importance of relationships, two-way relationships, and asking individual students what they need.
TRC and Well-Being
Charlene talks about the links between health, justice, education, and child welfare when considering a balanced approach to reconciliation, rooted in respect and linked to well-being.
Identities and Well-Being
Charlene talks about the intergenerational impact that residential schools had on the understanding of identity for many students. All students need to see themselves in the context of the curriculum. Developing an understanding of yourself is critical for building a foundation for learning.
Resources to Support Well-Being
Charlene emphasizes the critical role of human resources. She also highlighted the importance of students being able to see themselves in materials and resources used in the classroom.
Considerations for Next Steps
Charlene comments that having well-being in schools as a focus is a really good thing. She challenges viewers to look to Indigenous people, the knowledge keepers and the people that the children would look to when thinking about well-being, people like caregivers and elders. She cautions that when asking for feedback, it is critical to be prepared to implement what is heard – not just continue on the same path.