2023 Wall of Honour

Pete Chief is a member of the Onion Lake First Nation. He was raised by both parents in Onion Lake and continued to live there until he left to pursue post-secondary education at the age of 23. Pete’s first language is Cree. He was raised in the traditional Cree way of knowing and understanding, and began attending cultural ceremonies at a young age. He can still hear his grandparents and parents say to him in Cree, “Don’t ever forget who you are and don’t ever lose your language.”

His pathway to becoming a teacher took a few turns – after completing a land manager course at the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, he went on to take an Oil and Gas Land Management program at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technologies in Calgary. He worked for a short time in the oil fields, before returning to Saskatoon in 1999 to enrol in the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program in the College of Education.

"When I think back to my university days, one of my professors recognized that English was my second language. That professor recognized that I struggled with my writing but acknowledged that my ideas were strong and that I just needed writing support," shared Pete. "She helped me edit my work for the first two years of university. Another professor valued my traditional knowledge and asked for my perspectives during class time which also continued after I was finished my class and he asked me to be a facilitator. In these two situations, I felt valued as an Indigenous person."

Pete began his career with the Saskatoon Public School Division in 2003 at Westmount Community School teaching the Cree Language and Culture to all grade levels, as well as teaching grades six through eight. As his leadership abilities were recognized he soon was appointed as a vice-principal, serving at John Lake and King George elementary schools. Over the last eight and a half years, Pete has been the vice-principal and subsequently the principal of wâhkôhtowin School, leading the Cree Language and Culture program for the division.    

When he was first tasked with teaching the Cree language to his students and discovered there did not exist a curriculum for the Cree language, he reflected on his father’s teachings and the importance of knowing who he was and his language and used that to guide his instruction.

"That afternoon as I was walking home, I began thinking "I speak Cree, but I don't know how to teach it. I called my father and said "How would you teach Cree?" Pete shared in his acceptance speech on April 3.  

"He said to me: before you even teach children their language, teach them about who they are. My father knew, and my grandparents, they understood where we were and where we needed to be. This is what we do at wâhkôhtowin School. Children may not be fluent in the language. They speak the language, but they leave the school fluent in who they are."

"The spirit of our language is in us," he added.  

Pete is an outstanding educator and exemplary leader who is making significant contributions in the classroom, within the Saskatoon Public School Division, and throughout the community. Pete champions the revitalization of Indigenous languages and culturally responsive practices by engaging Elders, hosting pipe ceremonies, flying the Treaty 6 flag at his school, and collaborating with his community to achieve the goal of establishing the first Cree name for a school in his school division. As a leader he has been able to enact such significant change because he uses his gifts of patience, respect, humour, kindness, understanding, and courage in quiet and respectful ways.

Pete was recognized recently with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal in the field of education.

Ione Langlois was born in Midale, Saskatchewan where her family farmed. She was active in sports and drama in school, and choir and piano at church. Following graduation, Ione attended Teachers College in Regina before beginning her studies in the College of Home Economics and the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan. Following her marriage to Herve Langlois, Ione taught home economics in Clavet, Pangman, Avonlea, and Ogema before leaving the profession for 17 years to raise their four children.

Ione continued her education via night classes, eventually earning her Bachelor of Education degree in 1982. She continued to take library science classes and returned to the classroom as a teacher librarian in Clavet, Thorton, and Saskatoon. For four years she was co-editor of The Medium, the Saskatchewan School Library Association publication, as well as Library Consultant for the Saskatoon Public School Division.

A significant benchmark for Ione was joining the Waskesiu Heritage Group in 1993 and ultimately becoming the founding director for the Waskesiu Heritage Museum in 2005. For over 20 years, Ione was inspired to collect and write several publications on local history. She helped the heritage group collect three volumes of contributors’ memories of the area, assisted in the publication of two brochure guides introducing tourists to the area: Driving to the Narrows and A Walking Tour of Waskesiu. Through research in the local Parks Canada archives, she collected information on the local park wardens, compiled two volumes of photographs and data on community businesses over the last 90 years, and wrote a memoir of her tenure as curator of the museum. She also initiated the video recording of several oral history interviews with seniors in the community to capture their memories about the park.

As curator, she researched and established standard procedures and policies for collection development, and catalogued over 2,000 donated artifacts of diverse types. Two years into her tenure as founding director and thanks to countless fundraising initiatives by a legion of volunteers, the museum leased one half of the Friends of the Park building to showcase several indoor and outdoor displays including an original shack tent and a fire tower from the last tower in Prince Albert National Park.

Ione received the John G. Wright Distinguished Service Award from the Saskatchewan School Library Association. In 2011, Parks Canada recognized her commitment to the Waskesiu community by awarding her one of the 100 volunteer awards given nationwide for the organization’s centennial. She retired as curator in 2014 and retired from the board in 2015. 

In her chosen summer community of Waskesiu, Ione employed the education, skills, and talents she acquired over her 33-year career as an educator and teacher librarian to advance and preserve Waskesiu’s community spirit, vibrant culture, and unique history.

Ione was thrilled to receive her award in front of over 750 students and their family and friends at the college's annual pinning ceremony. She had these words of advice for the group assembled: 

"It took me 20 years to complete my Bachelor of Education degree and another 10 years to really find my passion as a teacher. If there was one thing I would advise you it is to find your passion and work hard. My passion is history and the end result is a world-class museum in Waskesiu. I may be biased, but I think we did well to start from a humble beginning."

Makate Pinasek hails from the Cote First Nation. She was born and raised among Knowledge Keepers, Wisdom Holders, and Lodge Keepers. Also known as Judy Mae Pelly, she was born to a family of 10 siblings, and with an extended family who nurtured her traditional education since childhood. Titles she now holds are Knowledge Keeper and Cultural Advisor, both earned through her life-long traditional education.

She is a proud Anishinaabe – Saulteaux woman. Raised primarily by her grandparents on the land, and in the sacred lodges, Makate Pinasek embraced the teachings of the Elders around her. A prolific visitor of the Old People, as a child she spent many days in the counsel of grandparents. Rain or shine, she would trudge across the fields to visit and learn. An activity she still undertakes today, visiting and counseling others now herself. 

Judy is a mother to three sons, and Kookom to five grandchildren.

As a Residential School Survivor Judy’s reflection and experience on her boarding school education at the St. Phillips Residential School has served to bridge relationships between all people.

Judy was one of the first students to enroll in the newly established Indian Teacher Education Program in 1973, where she obtained her teaching certificate and later finished her Bachelor of Education degree in 1985. She moved to Alberta and worked with Alberta Learning as an Education Manager for 15 years, before returning to Saskatoon. She has worked in various capacities with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and retired from the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies as Dean of Community and Health Studies in 2015 after 21 years of service. 

A humble leader, Judy relentlessly gives of her time and knowledge and works with over 30 organizations on issues of Truth and Reconciliation as a cultural advisor. She shares her knowledge of the Anishinaabe way of life and protocol to help others understand the importance of growing together in communities, businesses, service-industries, schools, and homes.

"A lot of things have happened since the three commisioners went across Canada and wrote the TRC Calls to Action . . . the history is real. It's not made up. And we can do something as educators," Judy shared during the ceremony on April 3. "We can make a difference in this world. I talk about the seven sacred teachings. If we all lived according to the seven sacred teachings we wouldn't have the chaos we have today." 

Judy serves as an Advisor to the Office of the Treaty Commissioner, the City of Saskatoon –Saskatoon City Police Victim Services, the RCMP Indigenous Women’s Advisory Group, and the Saskatoon Elder/Survivor Group. Judy also counsels the Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Oriented Research and the Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research, both based here at the University of Saskatchewan. Judy’s services include working with the Saskatchewan Health Authority Mental Health and Addiction Services Adult Outreach. Following decades of using alcohol to numb the pain of abuse endured at residential schools and in an abusive marriage, Judy found emotional healing, inner peace, and sobriety in her 40s and shares her story and journey to counsel others, many of whom credit her with saving their lives. In sharing her own story, she inspires others to keep striving to achieve their hopes and dreams.

At the Student Pinning and Wall of Honour Ceremony held on April 3, Judy had the following words for the 250 students receiving their Education Pins that evening: 

"Be the change that you want to see in the world. You have all these little children that will see you more than their parents. Remember that. You set the mood for them. You create the environment whether it's positive or negative. You are responsible for the environment that you create for the little people that are in your care."

Patti Rowley is an award-winning educator whose contributions and advocacy have left a lasting legacy in Saskatchewan schools, making them safer and more inclusive for gender-diverse students. As an educator for thirty-three years, she has taught over 6,600 students with humour and compassion. Her focus has been as an ally and advocate for gender and sexually diverse students.

Patti was born and raised in Saskatoon, attending St. Edward’s elementary school and then E.D. Feehan high school. Bragging that she was a “west-side Catholic Girl” would give her huge cred with her future students.

Patti competed in gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, softball, and football at highly competitive level, with three of the sports at national levels. Harmony Centre, her softball team, was inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame.

“My parents, Bunee and Ken, worked incredibly hard to provide these opportunities for me. I also had amazing coaches/mentors who believed in and encouraged me.”

Patti attended the University of Saskatchewan and completed her education with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education (BSPE’83) and a BEd (’84). 

“A couple of memories at university resonate with me. I remember taking a swimming activity class, and in order to pass, you had to swim a certain number of lengths in a certain period of time. Well, while every child was taking swimming lessons, I was in the gym training in gymnastics. If not for the yelling and cheering of my classmates, I would not have passed that swimming class,” shared Rowley.

“Another memory was when I tried out for the Huskiette basketball team (that’s what it was called back then). I was cut because I was too short. I know, shocking! That’s the first time I’ve ever been cut from a team and it was humbling, but I think I became a better, more understanding teacher and coach,” she said.

Patti began her teaching career at the Comprehensive High School in Swift Current, covering a maternity leave. She went on to teach in the Saskatoon Public School Division (SPSD) at Bedford Road Collegiate, initially as an intern and then spent eight years there teaching Physical Education and coaching basketball, volleyball, and track and field.

Mount Royal Collegiate was her next stop. There she taught Life Transitions, Ethical Living, and Physical Education. In 2001, she started Saskatchewan’s first GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance, now Gender and Sexuality Alliance to be more inclusive). At first it was met with resistance, but Patti’s constant pressure and determination made it a reality.

“I attended a breakout session at our division’s institute and convention on homophobia. I thought, ‘I can do this, start a GSA.’ I guess I was kind of a bulldog, relentless, but this was uncharted territory and students needed it. After the initial hesitation, administrators and staff were so supportive. At the open house in February, we had a booth set up, and every teacher was wearing a rainbow ribbon.”

For two decades Patti provided a voice to the voiceless, marginalized queer youth. She has given 2SLGBTQ+ students a place to feel safe and the confidence to advocate for themselves.

At Walter Murray, she continued to host student-run weekly GSA meetings with some special events. One was Winter’s A Drag bake sale where GSA members dressed up in drag and sold baked goods. Another was the Coming Out closet where Captain Queer was displayed in the main hallway highlighting queer students and staff. Walter Murray was the first to have gender-neutral washrooms.

Patti included queer education in her Life Transitions, Psychology and Sex Education curricula and had community members from OUTSaskatoon as guest presenters.

“I am so grateful to OUTSaskatoon for their expertise. I had them on speed dial and learned so much from them. But it was the students, who I was fortunate to work with, that taught me so much through their courage and fortitude.”

For her work with queer youth, Patti was awarded the Peter Corren Award in 2013 at the Breaking the Silence Conference at the University of Saskatchewan. This award is given to a person, persons, or organization whose efforts have had a long-term impact on social justice for sexual minorities. She was nominated for the YWCA Woman of Distinction award in education in 2017, and also received the OUTSaskatoon OUTShine KNOCKOUT award. In 2019, she was recognized by Member of Parliament Sherri Benson for her community service in Saskatoon West. Patti has also done presentations at staff openings, Breaking the Silence conference, and was the Keynote Speaker at the Prairie Pride Conference for students with Prairie Spirit School Division (PSSD).

Patti’s family have been a tremendous support, and she thanks her partner Bill, son Morgan, daughter Quinn, siblings Mari-Lou, Rick (Bonnie), and Bill (Nigel).

Patti retired in 2018, but after COVID she decided to substitute teach in Prairie Spirit School Division, where she resides in Martensville.

“I’ve had such a blast subbing. Students are so much fun!  It’s been amazing to see GSAs up and running in the schools I’ve been at, and now they’re in many more schools. Things have improved since 2001, and although there’s still work to do, I know our youth are in good hands!”

At the Student Pinning and Wall of Honour Ceremony held on April 3, Patti had the following words for the 250 students receiving their Education Pins that evening: 

"So what has changed since 1984, my first year teaching? A lot. But the one thing that has remained constant in a child's life is their teacher. So whether you give them a hug, or a high five, or a fist bump, you'll always be there for them. Advocating for them, and yes, quite often protecting them. So how does one do that for three decades? Laugh every day. Laugh at yourself, laugh with your colleagues, laugh with your students. But laugh every day. I want to wish every one of you a happy, healthy, successful career in teaching."

Article originally published at https://education.usask.ca