Fostering Reciprocal Relationships: Amanda Zhang's Journey in Inclusive and Experiential Education
Amanda Zhang's journey as an educator is a compelling narrative of passion, dedication, and innovation, deeply rooted in her commitment to environmental education and intercultural understanding. As a student in the Waaban Indigenous Teacher Education program at York University, Amanda has woven her unique experiences and principles into a rich tapestry of teaching practices that resonate with her values and aspirations. Amanda is the 2024 Grand Prize Winner of the David Suzuki Award! Here is her story:
Amanda's environmental ethos is profoundly influenced by the Seventh Generation Principle from the Haudenosaunee tradition, which advocates for decisions to consider their impact on the next seven generations. This principle not only guides her approach to teaching but also shapes her role as a Chinese-Canadian settler navigating the complexities of environmental stewardship and intercultural education.
In reflecting on her experiences in environmental education, Amanda draws inspiration from the tree teachings shared by her professor, Dr. Kiera Brant-Birioukov, Kanyen’kehà, in the Waaban Indigenous Teacher Education program. These teachings—Trunk, Ground, Roots, and New Life—provide a framework for understanding Amanda’s journey and the impact she aims to have.
Beginning at the Trunk—Holding Onto What Is Precious
Her love for the environment ignited during her high school years when she took an Outdoor Education course. This initial exposure to backcountry camping was transformative, fostering a deep sense of confidence and connection to the natural world. This formative experience, which involved three seasons of backcountry camping, teamwork, fire-making, and shelter-building, was pivotal in instilling confidence in her as a young woman of color from a low-income, single-mother household. The realization that equitable access to outdoor experiences is crucial led Amanda to investigate systemic barriers within the outdoor industry and to advocate for inclusivity in environmental education.
Centering on the Ground—Seeking Connection
In her teaching placements, Amanda exemplifies her commitment to creating meaningful and cross-curricular connections between students, their environment, and themselves. In a Grade 3/4 classroom, she developed a Water Protection Unit that emphasized students’ personal relationships with water, drawing inspiration from literature such as "We Are Water Protectors" and Indigenous activists like Autumn Peltier and the Onaman Collective. This unit not only educated students about water protection but also empowered them to become proactive stewards of this vital resource! Amanda’s belief in respecting students as autonomous beings with their own worldviews is reflected in her inclusive approach. The lesson, designed to be accessible to new immigrants and multilingual learners, resulted in students expressing interest in water animals, exploring the impact of plastic on water, and sharing their own languages, such as the Farsi word for water, ‘ab.’
Exploring the Roots—Deepening Understanding
Amanda's innovative teaching extends to younger students as well. In a Kindergarten setting, she crafted a Sunflower Planting Unit that integrated concepts of reciprocal relationships between sunflowers and pollinators with hands-on activities like journaling and measurement. Her use of loose parts play, nature journaling, and outdoor scavenger hunts engaged students in experiential learning and fostered a profound appreciation for the natural world. Amanda is committed to expanding her understanding of environmental education and its intersection with Indigenous, Intercultural, and Experiential education. A recent visit to Black Creek Community Farm highlighted the cross-curricular potential of place-based learning. Amanda found inspiration in Leanne Simpson’s story "Kwezens Makes a Lovely Discovery," which integrates traditional stories and Indigenous languages into subjects like Literacy, Social Studies, Science, Math, and the Arts. Simpson’s story of Kwezens learning about sweet water from Ajidamoo and sharing these teachings embodies the curiosity, love, trust, and respect that Amanda aspires to cultivate in her classrooms.
Embracing New Life—Innovation and Growth
Her work at the YMCA and Toronto Island further reflects her dedication to environmental education and community engagement. Whether facilitating outdoor activities or guiding nature-based learning experiences, Amanda is continually inspired by the innate curiosity of children and their readiness to engage in a reciprocal relationship with the Earth.
Amanda Zhang’s narrative is one of a lifelong learner and teacher, driven by a deep-seated commitment to authentic and compassionate environmental education. Her work, informed by her experiences and grounded in the values of the Seventh Generation Principle, strives to inspire and empower students to become thoughtful, engaged caretakers of the environment for generations to come. She hopes to carry forward the teachings of environmental education with authenticity, relevance, and compassion, preparing the next seven generations and beyond for a future where they cherish and protect the natural world.
-By Sachi Shukul
Comments