My path has been anything but ordinary – filled with travel, discovery and a deep curiosity about people and cultures. Originally from the Cévennes region in southern France, I now live and teach in the Cree community of Waskaganish.
I started teaching in the United States (2016-2018), before continuing my career in Canada. After several years in Vancouver and then Montreal, I decided to move north in July 2023. My goal was to meet Indigenous peoples, discover their way of life, explore their land and better understand their unique educational system. I also wanted to live in a remote region and experience the northern wilderness firsthand.
Over time, I’ve gradually immersed myself in Cree culture. I’ve taken part in traditional activities such as moose cutting, hide preparation and the crafting of moccasins, parkas and beadwork. Each of these gestures carries deep cultural meaning and has helped me better understand the world in which my students grow up.
Here, education is rooted in the senses, in experience and in connection with the land. Learning often takes place outdoors and follows the rhythm of the seasons and traditional activities. The school calendar adapts to community events – such as fishing on the Rupert River, beaver and moose hunting, and goose hunting season in late May, when migration begins.
Teaching in the North means constant adaptation. Social realities are complex, and resources are often limited. These challenges push you to reflect, to grow and to practice humility every single day.
My teaching methods have naturally evolved. I’ve learned to adjust my approach to meet students’ needs, to respect their rhythm, to weave traditional knowledge into the curriculum and to build bridges between academic content and cultural reality.
Through this experience, I’ve learned valuable lessons:
- Patience, to embrace the unexpected and accept everyone’s pace;
- The importance of connection with Elders and nature, reminding me that knowledge is transmitted through relationships and respect for natural cycles;
- Listening, to truly hear others’ stories and needs;
- Respect for silence, understanding that not everything must be said – reflection has its place;
- Oral storytelling, which keeps memory, meaning, and identity alive.
I’ll admit, I was nervous about facing such harsh winters. Here, temperatures can drop to -43°C for weeks at a time. Yet I was pleasantly surprised to see how life continues undeterred: children play outside, families gather and community events carry on. Winter isn’t seen as an obstacle – it’s a season full of beauty, traditions and togetherness.
Sharing this journey matters to me, because these experiences deserve to be known and valued. Teaching in the North means stepping out of your comfort zone, questioning yourself and rediscovering the essence of education: learning together, human to human.