I was born on Treaty 6 Territory of the Nehiyaw (Cree), Denesuline (Dene), Nakota Sioux (Stoney), Anishinaabe (Saulteaux), and Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) known among uninvited settlers as Edmonton. I grew up on the traditional territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən and SENĆOŦEN speaking people, primarily the W̱sáneć. For the last 8 years I have lived with my family on the unceded territory of the Quw’utsun.
My parents, Dawn (Johnson) and Stuart Cameron, were both born on the of the Treaty 6 Territory of the Nehiyaw (Cree), Denesuline (Dene), Nakota Sioux (Stoney), Anishinaabe (Saulteaux), and Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) known among uninvited settlers as Saskatoon.
My grandparents are Grace (Cameron) and George Cameron on my father’s side and Melba (Salsbury) and William Johnson. They are primarily from the Treaty 6 Territory of the Nehiyaw (Cree), Denesuline (Dene), Nakota Sioux (Stoney), Anishinaabe (Saulteaux), and Niitsitapi (Blackfoot).
Being brought up through with a Western education, it was late in my life that I began to understand the true history of North America and colonialism. As a life long learner and educator, I hope that my continued learning will help acknowledge, respect, and champion Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being in education and the communities on whose land I live.