Ashley Bueckert
NITEP Cariboo field centre
Nation: Wetsuweten Nation in Hagwilget, B.C.
Home: Quesnel, B.C.
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Ashley Bueckert. I am Carrier from the Wetsuweten Nation in Hagwilget B.C., and I am also of Danish descent. I currently live in Quesnel, B.C. and have for the majority of my life. I have previous education in Social Work; I have received my Diploma from College of New Caledonia. I am a married mother of a 2 year-old son with a daughter due in March 2019, and currently work at my local School District #28 as an Aboriginal Education Support Worker. I just started my first year of the NITEP program in the Cariboo region.
Who/what inspired you to go into teaching?
My inspiration for beginning my journey as a teacher stems from being in classrooms for the past 3 years as a support worker. It is a truly amazing feeling to be able to begin the journey to achieve my dreams, and I could not have done it without the support of my family. I have always known that I wanted to be in a helping profession and this passion only intensified. I figured why not have my own classroom to incorporate the changes I want to make? I value the teaching that Indigenous education has to offer, not only the content itself but the knowledge Indigenous peoples have to offer our communities.
How would you describe your NITEP expereince thus far?
NITEP has been challenging in the best of ways. As an individual who has not attended a post-secondary program in the past 4 years, it is busy and has taken time to get used to again. But, as a working pregnant mother and student, NITEP has been there to help me every step of the way to help make my aspirations come true. I love the Indigenous aspects that NITEP has to offer, it is very exciting to be a part of a program that’s main focus is incorporating Indigenous aspects and views in to the education system, an area where it is highly needed. My community is in need of teachers, so I am very excited to experience that growth within School District #28 and be able to share my knowledge as an Indigenous teacher one day.