2021 Student Orientation Opening Keynote Speaker: Brad Baker

“Indigenous Education – Why Me? Why Now?”

The journey of Indigenous Education is one that is complex for all of us. Through this complexity, we need to understand that the role that educators play is one of immense influence. Let’s explore what we do not know, how we are going to know and what we are going to do with this knowledge.

Student Orientation
Thursday, September 2, 2021
8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Student Orientation Schedule

Tsnomot – Brad Baker Bio

Brad is a proud member of the Squamish Nation and carries the ancestral name Tsnomot, which he shares with his late grandfather and father. Brad’s father is an Indian Residential School survivor after spending seven years at St. Paul’s Indian Residential School.

Brad has been an educator for 26 years in the North Vancouver School District. For the last 8 years his position has been District Principal with the portfolios of Indigenous Education and Safe Schools. He is also an adjunct teaching professor at UBC within the Faculty of Education.

Brad was recently selected to the Governor General of Canada’s Leadership Conference. He was 1 of 250 leaders from across Canada that came together to develop strategies on how to move Canada forward in the next 150 years. Brad was the recipient of the Indspire Guiding the Journey National Award for Leadership in Indigenous Education. Brad is currently a candidate in the Doctor of Education program at the University of British Columbia.

Brad has had the opportunity to enhance the awareness and the values of Indigenous Education that leads to dialogue through his presentations across Canada and the United States. One of Brad’s mottos is for all of us to understand “Truth Before Reconciliation” and to “Go Forward With Courage.” During the conversation with Brad, you will be able to gain an understanding of the importance of Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous ways of knowing within your own practice and as a member of society.