Make Your Mind Strong: My Father’s Insights into Academic Success

Abstract

Through a series of interviews, I learned how my father drew upon his family’s and community’s teachings, which were deeply rooted in traditional Haida pedagogy, to achieve success. I reflected on his stories and their connections and the work of other Indigenous scholars in the field of education to thematically organize the teachings that he shared. I came to understand seven important principles of traditional Haida pedagogy: learning is authentic; learning involves making a contribution; learning occurs through observation; learning involves curiosity; learning involves aspects of spirituality and protocol; learning involves the importance of visualization; and learning involves the connection between mind and heart.