Ni’noxsola – Josie Andrew
Nuu chah nulth Flores Island, Ahousaht
Greetings all from my heart to your heart (teech muh). Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Josephine Andrew or Josie as most know me. Josephine is what I was called when I was ushkuk (mischief) as a child.
I was born and raised in the small village of Ahousaht wayyy back a long time ago. My village is located on Flores Island, which is about 45 minutes north of Tofino and reachable by boat or plane or for those brave enough, by canoe.
I was raised in a traditional manner by my parents Albert and Fanny, to whom I owe the gratitude of bringing me into this world. Being the eldest of 9 children and learning how to not be a bad example to my siblings, our parents were brave enough to raise us on a fish
boat that we travelled up and down the west coast in, stopping to visit relatives along the way while our dad slayed whatever fish was in season. He hunted the odd deer and ducks to offset our largely seafood diet. I recently learned from an elder that my father was the last
man to actually harpoon a whale on the west coast, he was only 15 at the time and this was a rite of passage for him. My father was well known for his generosity in sharing his catches of the day with the village people (no not the disco band but our elders and those in need). This teaching is alive and well within our huge family. So, while my mother was instilling what some say are land based teachings, common sense and mainly trying to keep us from going overboard, we delighted in a good life ranging from land lubber to seal blubber. Life was good.
Sadly, this beautiful life came to a screeching halt when at the age of 12 we tragically lost our parents. Life hit me hard as we were left to be raised in the foster care and residential school system. As one can image, this was not an easy life. It was during that time that I decided to embark on a journey to pursue a higher education at the University of British Columbia, Athabasca University, Caplilano College and North Island College (not all at once though hehe). My passion was education and human services with a heart felt focus on inclusive education.
In the very early stages of my career, I was recruited by the Ministry of Education and the Nuu chah nulth Tribal Council in Port Alberni to work with a select team that was tasked with developing a program that is now present-day Indigenous Education. I spent the past 39 years loving the challenges and our students. During this time, my husband and I fostered and adopted children in Port Alberni and the Comox Valley, specializing in supporting children faced with neuro-diverse challenges. We were blessed with having many children in our home and are currently raising our last child.
Following my retirement from the school district I took on a role within the early years programs in the Comox Valley. This was almost like a home coming for me as I had been involved in the development of what is currently known as Aboriginal Head start. This project entailed creating cultural programs for Aboriginal Head start and other early years centres with a focus on creating wrap around services that supported families in need. It was also during this time that there was a strong need for cultural support for women who were faced with domestic violence and I was asked to create a cultural program that supported women and their families. It was there that I along with several other women started a community drum group called Honouring our Ancestors and this is a beautiful endeavour that speaks to many hearts that are in need of healing.
Prior to my retirement from early years I was approached by another passionate team that was aiming to do a paradigm shift within the judicial system. Our aim is to develop measures of intervention at all systemic levels that would support families who are facing systemic challenges. This project is not only being designed to support but also to address the westernized views of the judicial system, how to look at it through an Indigenous lens and apply it to change. This is passion project led by a team with passionate hearts.
I have had the gift of being able to have walked in two largely different worlds and I have the wonderful opportunity to know what has worked for our Indigenous people and what needs changing. I am proud to be a part of this important process of doing the heart work for our students and this is something that I whole heartedly chose to do back in the 1900’s. Crossing the threshold to embrace this new role as an Elder in Residence is exciting and I look forward to sharing what I can, when I can and know that it will be done with the utmost of respect that flows….from my heart to your heart. Chuu
