Before We Write Their Story: An Indigenous Perspective on Relationship, Curiosity, and the Power of Educators

Presented by Samantha Buchsdruecker

Every child enters our classroom carrying a story. Some stories are visible. Most are not.

As educators, we make hundreds of decisions each day based on what we observe. But what happens when we respond only to what we can see? And what happens when the stories we assume become the stories children begin to believe about themselves?

In this 20-minute TED-style presentation, Cree educator, speaker, and patient partner Samantha Buchsdruecker invites educators to explore relationship through an Indigenous lens. Drawing from lived experience, reflective storytelling, and Indigenous teachings, participants will consider the profound influence educators have in shaping how children see themselves and their place in the world.

Through a meaningful interactive reflection and the Indigenous teaching of the canoe, participants will explore how humility, curiosity, and relationship can transform the way we respond to behaviour, belonging, and learning. Rather than asking educators to know every child’s story, this presentation challenges them to create classrooms where children never have to prove their worth before they are believed.

Participants will leave with a simple but powerful practice they can carry back to their classrooms the very next day: replacing assumptions with curiosity, choosing relationship before judgment, and recognizing that every interaction is an opportunity to either reinforce a story a child has been given—or help them begin writing a new one.

This presentation is intentionally designed as a TED-style storytelling experience that combines lived experience, Indigenous teachings, and practical reflection. Participants will engage in a simple interactive activity that can be adapted for classrooms of all grade levels and is designed to encourage relationship-centred learning beyond the presentation.

My work is informed by my lived experience as a Cree woman from Big River First Nation, my work in healthcare with BC Emergency Health Services, and my roles as a patient partner and speaker in healthcare, education, and research settings. This presentation reflects my commitment to building relationships that support belonging, curiosity, and reconciliation in education.

Previous presentations include Indspire’s 2026 Soaring Program, BC Emergency Health Services, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Peace Arch Hospital, Legal Aid BC, and other healthcare and community organizations.