As part of her final teaching practicum, Lydia Brown travelled to North Spirit Lake First Nation to complete a placement in a northern First Nations school. What began as an opportunity to step outside her comfort zone became an experience that shaped both her personal growth and the kind of educator she hopes to become.
We connected with Lydia to hear about her experience in North Spirit Lake and what she’s taking away from her time teaching in the North.
Meet Lydia Brown, a teacher candidate completing her practicum in North Spirit Lake First Nation.
I’m originally from Guelph, Ontario, and I moved to Peterborough in 2020 for my undergrad at Trent. I was part of the Teacher Education Stream and always knew I wanted to be a teacher from my experience working in day camps and after-school programs. After finishing a History degree, I went straight into my B.Ed—and this placement was my final practicum before graduating.
I first heard about Gakino’amaage’s Northern Practicum Program during my first week of teacher’s college. It immediately stood out to me as something so far outside my comfort zone, but also something I really wanted to experience. Reading stories from other educators who had taught in the North motivated me to take that step.
I knew I wanted to teach in Ontario, and wherever I ended up, I would have Indigenous students in my classroom. I wanted to better understand both the history and the present-day realities of First Nations communities so I could be a more informed and supportive teacher for all my future students.
Before arriving, I had a lot of uncertainty. I was especially worried about social isolation since I’m a very social person. I also heard different messages—some people shared about the gifts that come with teaching in the North, while others warned me to be careful, repeating assumptions people often carry about communities they’ve never been to. I wasn’t sure what to expect.
I also wasn’t sure what I would eat. I’m a vegetarian, so I brought dehydrated meals and some food from home just in case. But when I arrived, I realized the store was much more well-stocked than I had expected. It had most of my usual staples—the main difference is just that there’s usually only one option for each item, which turned out to be totally fine.
My day-to-day experience in North Spirit Lake has been really peaceful and nice. I’ve spent a lot of time outdoors—walking on skidoo trails, trying cross-country skiing, and exploring the area. Around the community, people stop to chat, and I often run into students from my class when I’m out.
Lydia enjoying skiing out on the land in North Spirit Lake.
One moment that really stood out to me was the Easter weekend ice fishing derby. I had never fished before and was nervous about showing up without knowing anyone or what I was doing. But as soon as I got there, a student from my class and a high school student came running over and asked if I wanted to fish with them and their grandma. I ended up spending the afternoon with them, learning how to fish.
That experience reflected a lot of my time here. I learned how to play broomball and how to hold a hockey stick—things I had never done before. The students thought it was pretty funny how many things they knew that I didn’t, and they were always excited to teach me. Even on my second day, when the school went snowshoeing, students and staff made sure I knew what I was doing and helped me along the way.
Enjoying some ice fishing with students on a snowy day.
Through this experience, I’ve learned how important it is to build strong relationships and create a welcoming classroom environment. The staff at the school do such a great job of supporting students while also celebrating each individual. That’s something I want to carry into my own teaching, even if I’m working in a larger school.
Being here has challenged the assumptions I arrived with. Five weeks isn’t long enough to fully understand any community, but it’s been long enough to see how little the warnings I’d heard matched what I found. There are challenges, like there are in any community, but they don’t define people’s experiences or who they are.
What stood out to me most was how kind and welcoming everyone has been. Every time I go for a walk, people wave and say hello. I also didn’t expect to see so many dogs—almost every walk, I end up with a puppy walking me home.
Over the past five weeks, I’ve grown a lot. I feel more confident trying new things and stepping outside my comfort zone. I’ve improved my ability to build relationships with students and community members, and I’ve become more aware of my own assumptions. I’ve also learned to be more flexible and to learn from the people around me—including my students.
This experience has changed how I think about my future as an educator.
I’m much more open to teaching in northern and remote First Nations communities, and I want to continue learning about Indigenous education and perspectives throughout my career. It also reinforced how important relationships, flexibility, and community connection are in creating meaningful classroom experiences.
I would absolutely consider working in a First Nation again. My time here has been peaceful, fun, and meaningful. I would love to experience the community in other seasons and continue learning beyond these five weeks.
Lydia shared that having support throughout the placement process helped make the experience feel accessible, especially as someone stepping so far outside her comfort zone for the first time.
“Having support throughout the experience made it easier to step into something that initially felt so far outside my comfort zone. I felt set up for success from the beginning.”
Looking back on her time in North Spirit Lake, Lydia says the experience challenged her assumptions, strengthened her confidence, and helped her better understand the importance of relationship-building in education.
“My time in North Spirit Lake has been truly unforgettable.”
Lydia’s story started with a single step outside her comfort zone. If you’re a certified teacher ready to build meaningful relationships and grow in ways you didn’t expect, Gakino’amaage will support you every step of the way. Apply today.
