Tansi. Hello. Ronita Giroux nitsîhkason. Wapsewsipi nitohcân. I am Ronita Giroux from Swan River First Nation. Apisis Ni-Nêhiyiwan, Ninistohten Nehiyiwan maka namoya kahkiyaw. I can speak a little Cree but understand more Cree than I can speak. Nisto nitotanisin. I am a mother of three daughters. Throughout my own learning journey, I have been taught to walk through this world with humility and grace, hold my culture and traditions high, love who I am and where I come from, and am extremely grateful and incredibly proud to be a Strong Cree woman - Sohkâpiskisow Nêhiyaw-Iskwêw.

I am a Class of 2020 University of Alberta Bachelor of Education Graduate completing the
ATEP-Aboriginal Teacher Education Program. After graduating I took a grade 6 teaching
position for KTCEA at Clarence Jaycox School in Loon River First Nation for the 2020-2021
School Year. I stayed with CJS for my year 2 and moved up with my grade 6’s while taking on another grade. I had 23 students teaching grades 6 & 7 for the 2021-2022 School Year. This upcoming 2022-2023 School Year will be my third year in Education. I am humbled that it will be at Elsie Fabian School in Fort McKay. I will be placed in Junior High and could not be more excited than I am about my placement and being a part of this upcoming year.

I became an Educator first and foremost because of the connections that I have with our young people. Relationships come easily to me as I wear my heart on my sleeve. This truly can be the key to keeping our students engaged and focused. When our adolescent generations realize that we are here specifically for them, to aid them along their learning journeys, to allow for their uniqueness to shine through, and guide them along their paths. Our young nation will then in turn recognize just how incredibly important they all are moving into our future as leaders to be, lawyers, teachers, doctors, athletes, etc, as the opportunities are endless. From there, their dreams shall continue to grow and flourish into their realities, by teaching them just how important they are as Indigenous people, to assist in showing them the impact they too, can have once they find their own voice and place in this world. I became a teacher so that I can be a part of this for our students, moving forward.

Kinanâskomitin - I am grateful and thankful!