Lisa's blog

Back to School

Kahnawake is a Kanien’kehá:ka community and traditionally a matrilineal society. We have grown as a community. We have our own government, our own health system and even have administered our own education system. We are very independent and capable as a community in becoming and existing as self-sufficient. (That’s a topic for another blog.) So what does this have to do with back to school time?
As the mom of two young daughters, this is quite an exciting time for our household. The school shopping for all the new clothes, new school bags, and the best part of all for me was always the new pencils, erasers and stationary.
Monday August 30th is the first day of school for many of Kahnawake school children. I know I am in a hurry for this day, and not only because my children NEED to be back in school. They have had enough of the “fun” stuff and are begging to learn.
This school year is going to be a bit different as several of the mainstays in Kahnawake education have retired. When the advertisement for these positions came out, you could almost hear the quiet buzzing around town – who was going to fill the positions, who was qualified to fill the positions.
I had several discussions with friends and family about this topic. I know that the “shoes” of principal of Kahnawake Survival School and as Executive Director of the Kahnawake Education Center were not easy positions to fill. They are both very demanding jobs, and require a special type of person with a lot of patience, skill and a tough skin.
Mr. Cross and Mr. Delisle did an amazing job and have brought the system to where it stands today. They have done magnificent work in educating our children.
I was quite happy when I heard that women were selected to fill the positions. I do not mean to sound sexist or to make this blog about women’s rights, but I just think that men and women operate differently.
Society often characterizes men as critical thinkers, and more business oriented; whereas women are nurturers, which makes how they function in business and management different. So how is this going to change the system? WILL it change the system?
For so many years, Kahnawake was used to one style of management and administration and it will be refreshing to have a woman oversee the education system. It will bring a whole new perspective and hopefully improve on an already successful area of our community.
The women who have been selected are definitely qualified, and will do an amazing job from my perspective. They have the education and the experience that will bring freshness to the school year.
Personally, I like these changes and applaud their choices and I think that fresh faces and new ideas can only improve the existing structure and successes of Kahnawake’s education system.
It is just refreshing. As the mom of two young women, the possibilities for Kahnawake women and their future careers are endless.
Have a happy Labour Day and be safe!