Culturally Submerged

Name: Culturally Submerged
Price: $3.99 USD
Author: Vesa Peltonen
ISBN: 9781453532683

Journey of a White Rez Teacher

by Vesa Peltonen

Formats

E-Book

$3.99

Softcover

$19.99

E-Book

$3.99

Book Details

Language : English

Publication Date : 7/9/2010

Format : E-Book

Dimensions : 6x9

Page Count : 164

ISBN : 9781453532683

Format : Softcover

Dimensions : 6x9

Page Count : 164

ISBN : 9781453532676

About the Book

There is no available information at this time.

About the Author

Vesa Peltonen is a well known designer, and an Art and Media Instructor living in Thunder Bay, Canada. He is a photographer and musician. Over 25 years Peltonen has had a rewarding career, having taught for many educational institutions, including university. He has a gifted wonderful wife and 3 talented sons he’s proud of. Peltonen served as an advisor for the Ontario Arts Council. He won the ‘City of Thunder Bay Culture Award for Visual Arts: 2006,’ having helped make ‘art as an integral part of community’. He feels his years in reserves had imbedded a new circuit into his cultural psyche. He taught in five N.W. Ontario Ojibway communities. Peltonen had travelled the world desiring to be part of other cultures as an education. He experienced the spiritual is what binds us all, and peoples’ perception of the reality has caused our material desire, thus conflict. The aboriginal people have had much confusion from how they’ve been governed. He shares his insights, with many types of situations occurring in the ‘rez’ or reserves of Northwestern Ontario. His feelings of isolation and dramatic issues made him learn to adapt. Being perplexed by student and administrative behaviour, he creatively made things better for kids. First Nations people had many years of alienation. The stories relate events from different communities he taught in, written much as if you’re looking through a mirror and being altered through it, to a similar situation in a lateral way. With many native issues being similar, it doesn’t matter where he’s forming perceptions, they do manage to connect.

Customer Reviews

" I thought I knew much about out northland and the Aboriginal people, but this has many really unique topics. The Chapter on 'Fires, Fires and more Fires' goes from one community to another, like time travelling, but the same type of situation. It certainly is not an easy task in being a teacher, with lots to be aware of for one's piece of mind as well as knowing the cultural norms/ethics. Being alone for long periods away from home shows why many instructors do not stay long. Good experiences, but this tells many can be depressing and frustrating. Most Native kids don't have a stable life it sort of sums up. Fascinating topics. "

Rob Knutson
"A most eye opening accounts of the many occurrences especially on First Nations' isolated communities. Many Natives live with 6-7 people in a 600 square foot one storey home, often one big open space. No room for privacy. I won't forget about the kid who said he always wakes up way before reay for school with his bed in the living room. His baby sister is crying, parents yelling. He hides under the covers. He can't wait for some sane social quiet at his cousins after school. He actually like school, where he has some control over his life, even if he doesn't get good marks in his subjects. Kids fail school on purpose often so they can be with their friends and also avoid the scary responsibility of the life after high school, like the dark mystery of the night, feeling fear of responsibilities.

Great reading. Never knew this was what it was most like in Native homes. "

Leif Peltonen
"A most eye opening accounts of the many occurrences especially on First Nations' isolated communities. Many Natives live with 6-7 people in a 600 square foot one storey home, often one big open space. No room for privacy. I won't forget about the kid who said he always wakes up way before reay for school with his bed in the living room. His baby sister is crying, parents yelling. He hides under the covers. He can't wait for some sane social quiet at his cousins after school. He actually like school, where he has some control over his life, even if he doesn't get good marks in his subjects. Kids fail school on purpose often so they can be with their friends and also avoid the scary responsibility of the life after high school, like the dark mystery of the night, feeling fear of responsibilities.

Great reading. Never knew this was what it was most like in Native homes. "

Leif Peltonen
"I thought I knew much about out northland and the Aboriginal people, but this has many really unique topics. The Chapter on 'Fires, Fires and more Fires' goes from one community to another, like time travelling, but the same type of situation. It certainly is not an easy task in being a teacher, with lots to be aware of for one's piece of mind as well as knowing the cultural norms/ethics. Being alone for long periods away from home shows why many instructors do not stay long. Good experiences, but this tells many can be depressing and frustrating. Most Native kids don't have a stable life it sort of sums up. Fascinating topics. "

Rob Knutson

Add Review

Name

Email

Ratings

Please Enter Rating

Comments

Please Verify