Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence - For Margaret Field every day offers the chance to learn something new.

Learning and encouraging other people to do the same has been a constant part of Field's life. When she was in junior and senior high school, Field, a resident of Fort Providence, discovered she was a good student and enjoyed learning.

Margaret Field receives a Ministerial Literacy Award for educators from then Education minister Charles Dent last month. - photo courtesy of Barb Miron

"I just love to learn all the time," said Field.

"I could read any book I got my hands on and I even read the Bible from front to back."

Her love of learning led Field to become a teacher. Starting in 1983 she spent 14 years teaching elementary students at Deh Gah school before taking on the role of community adult educator at the Aurora College community learning centre for the past 10 years.

Field's contributions as an educator were recognized last month when she received a Ministerial Literacy Award Then minister Charles Dent presented the award to Field during a ceremony in Yellowknife on Oct. 2.

"I didn't really expect it so I was kind of surprised," said Field about winning the award.

Field deserves the award for her work with adult students, said Barb Tsetso, an adult educator with Aurora College in Fort Simpson.

"She's like a mother to the students. She really looks after them," said Tsetso.

Field combines traditional knowledge and academic learning in a way that allows students to relate what they learn in the classroom to their existing knowledge and on the land skills, said Tsetso.

"It makes for success," she said.

Field credits her willingness to try different programming that combines traditional and academic learning to her high student retention rate.

"I think it's important for them to recognize cultural values, their history and the wonderful importance of their elders and nature," she said.

To connect students with the land and cultural learning, Field tries to bring every class to her cabin at least once. One week at the cabin is spent focusing on group dynamics. An elder is invited to come and set snares and nets under the ice with students.

"They really enjoy that," said Field about the students.

Back in the classroom, Field encourages students to write about their experiences.

"They have a lot of wonderful stories to share," she said.

Teaching adults is different from working with elementary students because adults are there to learn, and see classes as a second chance to try new things, said Field.

"I just love to see when they're so eager to learn," she said.

Being in the classroom with adult students, Field also shares in the learning process.

"I learn new things each day with them," she said.

"They have a lot to offer."

In addition to classroom work, Field also encourages students to volunteer in the community at feasts and other gatherings.

Students also get out into the community through the job shadowing program that she created. During the upgrading skills program, students choose a community member to follow to work for a week.

The shadowing allows students to realize the importance of the workplace and the attitudes, skills and ethics that are required there, said Field. Community members have been very supportive of the program, she said.

At age 57, even the possibility of retirement in a few years won't keep Field from helping people learn. Field said she'll use some of her free time after retirement to volunteer at the school's library.