About me
My name is Ashton Janvier, and I am a Dënesųłiné First Nations educator from Clearwater River Dene Nation in northern Saskatchewan. I am a fluent speaker, reader, and writer of the Dënesųłiné language, and my work in education is deeply rooted in supporting Indigenous language, culture, and land-based learning.
For the past six years, I have been teaching full time and have had the opportunity to work with students from Kindergarten to Grade 9. Throughout my teaching experience, I have focused heavily on land-based education, creating learning opportunities that connect students to the land, traditional knowledge, and cultural teachings. This approach has helped me become more attuned to the environment and to holistic ways of learning that value balance between intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical development.
Through land-based education, I work to incorporate cultural traditions, language, and community knowledge into the curriculum so that students can see themselves reflected in their learning. I believe that when education is grounded in land, language, and culture, it strengthens identity, builds confidence, and supports meaningful learning experiences for Indigenous youth.
I recently completed a Master of Educational Leadership, which has further strengthened my commitment to developing meaningful and authentic approaches to land-based education and Indigenous language revitalization within schools. My goal is to continue supporting learning environments where Indigenous knowledge systems are respected and integrated into educational practice.
I am grateful for the opportunity to attend the Outdoor Learning Conference in Banff and to connect with other educators who are passionate about land-based learning and culturally grounded education.
