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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Di Ann Blesse has been teaching for 30 years and doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon.

David Reid, the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association president, presents Di Ann Blesse with the national Outstanding Aboriginal Educator Award and a painting at Sir John Franklin High School on June 7. - photo courtesy of the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association

It's dedication like this and the passion Blesse holds for educating youth in the community that made her an easy choice for the Canadian Teachers' Federation's Outstanding Aboriginal Educator Award which was handed to her at Sir John Franklin High School by the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association on June 7.

Blesse is currently the department head of aboriginal programming at Sir John Franklin High School and teaches social studies to Grade 10 and 11 students.

"I'm past the age you can retire," said Blesse. "I still do it because I enjoy the kids. I love seeing the changes occur."

The national award recognizes the importance of aboriginal teachers and aboriginal culture in Canada, according to Myles Ellis, director of research and information with the Canadian Teachers' Federation. For each of the last four years, every province and territory has nominated an aboriginal teacher who works in Canadian public education and furthers aboriginal perspective and cultural awareness for the award.

"The advisory committee for aboriginal educators did not have an easy decision, but Di Ann's experience and activities stood out to the committee to the degree that she merited recognition," said Ellis.

Blesse said when she started her education toward teaching, graduating from the Aurora College Teacher Education Program in 1978, there weren't a lot of educational options in the NWT,

"If you look at the post-secondary education in the North at the time, you could be either a truck driver or a teacher. Since I was a single parent, I chose to be a teacher. Now there are a lot more educational opportunities in the North," said Blesse.

Blesse then went on to acquire her bachelor of education degree at the University of Saskatchewan in 1996, and then her master of education in 1997. She has since worked as a teacher and administrator throughout the NWT and has lectured at the University of Saskatchewan.

Her achievements aside, it is still the changes she sees in her students and the success stories she remembers that are the some of the greatest rewards her career has given her, she said.

"It's the outcomes for me. I've seen children who are first to graduate high school in their families and then their brothers and sisters follow in their footsteps," said Blesse.

"When I was the assistant superintendent for the South Slave region, there was no high school in Fort Resolution or in Lutsel K'e. We started to board these students, with the communities' support, in homes so they could attend high school in Fort Smith and Hay River. Recently, a man came to talk with me, who was one of the first Fort Resolution students to be boarded in Fort Smith. He is now a university graduate with so many possibilities in front of him," said Blesse.

Blesse said educating young people about aboriginal culture and languages is still one of her top priorities.

"When I first came to Yellowknife, there were no aboriginal programs. Now there is the aboriginal language and culture programming at both (Yellowknife Education District No. 1) and Catholic School boards. We have made some change, we have made some progress."

Blesse said winning the National Aboriginal Educator Award was both exciting and gratifying.

"Winning an award like that affirms the work not only I, myself, have done, but also ensures the aboriginal story is included in the education system," said Blesse.

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