Have you ever wanted to learn more about the Mi’kmaq, Mi’kmaq Children, their language and culture? Join Nik Phillips, as he explores a historical overview of the Mi’kmaw people, their customs and practices around child raring, and how gender plays so little in traditional Mi’kmaw child rearing. Participates will have an opportunity to see Early Childhood Education through a different lens and look at how we support differences in the classroom.
Facilitator Bio: Nicholas (Nik) Phillps is a Treaty Education policy analyst for the provincial department of Office of L'nu Affairs, and a faculty member of the Nova Scotia Community College, teaching Early Childhood Education and the Poqji-kina’masulti’kw tel-kina’mujik mijua’ji’jk (Mi’kmaq Early Childhood Education) program.
He is a member of Mulin Sipu (Millbrook Mi’kmaw Nation). As a young two-spirited knowledge holder, Nik embodies the practice of Etuaptmumk (two-eyed seeing), bringing a wealth of Indigenous and Western knowledge to his life and work. He holds the belief that reconciliation is imbedded in our ability to share, listen, and understand one another. He is a well-rounded person who believes in supporting others in their own places of knowing.
Nik holds a BA (Honours) and MA (Child and Youth Study) from Mount Saint Vincent University. He is an active member of community who advocates for language, culture, inclusivity, and equity. He most recently served as the Director of Early Education for Mulin Sipu.
Aside from Nik’s professional pursuits, he is an adventurous individual who enjoys the outdoors, collecting traditional medicines, hunting, fishing, gardening, bee keeping and growing. He is also a traditional artist, collecting and designing Mi’kmaw traditional baskets, porcupine quill work and bead work.
November 15, 2021
9:00 AM