From shoebox to website: Dominic Beaudry named education person of distinction

By Laura E. Young

SUDBURY– It all began with Dominic Beaudry’s Grandmother Mary, his family’s first historian. She kept a diary of the events in her life and those of the community for most of her life, storing the pages in simple shoeboxes.

“That’s where I get my passion for history, documenting and telling the truth,” said Beaudry as he accepted Laurentian University’s Native Education Person of Distinction Award, “Mnaaj’in Gechi-wiidookang Nishnaabe-Gchi-Kinoomaagziwin” on Tuedsay, June 21, at Laurentian University.

Beaudry is the Director of Education at the Wikwemikong Board of Education (WBE) on Manitoulin Island. He also serves on the Laurentian Board of Governors and is a former member of the Laurentian University’s Native Education Council (LUNEC). Beaudry holds degrees in education and history and is an Anishinabe historian. He has taught at the elementary and secondary school levels.

The ceremony was held as part of the university’s celebrations of National Aboriginal Day. In addition to his “substantial commitment to education,” it was also noted that he is a fluent speaker of Ojibway.

The community is “extremely blessed to have a leader who speaks the traditional language,” said Taima Moeke-Pickering, Director of the School of Indigenous Relations, in her introduction of Beaudry.

Speaking first in Ojibway, Beaudry said that in order for a school to reach its full potential, it needs to engage all stakeholders and partners, which includes First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.

While residential schools have been the focus of much discussion, it was time to place the focus on why the schools happened in the first place, he also said as he accepted the award.

It’s time to rewrite histories, he said, adding that during his own studies he read many of Samuel de Champlain’s documents. “When we read between (his) lines, we see the real First Nations.”

The education award reminds him to continue to advocate for education that is meaningful for all students, Beaudry said.

His award is for the students and education. “I’m only here because I’m here to advocate for them and to advocate for them to have great learning experiences. And to the elders, like my late Grandmother.

“It’s important to have our histories written and to share our histories and make them part of the main social fabric, part of Canadian society,” he said.

As part of the WBE’s development, the board’s website includes a curriculum shop which sells an extensive series of educational resources in Ojibway.

In 2007, former Laurentian president Judith Woodsworth launched the Distinction Award to honour key change-makers in Indigenous Education, said Sheila Cote-Meek, Associate Vice-President, Academic and Indigenous affairs at Laurentian University.

During her remarks on June 21, Cote-Meek also acknowledged the many Indigenous faculty and staff who work in almost every department at the university from Indigenous relations to English, education, medicine, and architecture.

She said, “I think that’s a real accomplishment and a move forward that’s been really positive.”

For further information, feel free to go to: https://wbe-education.ca/   https://laurentian.ca/lunec