Corrections Are Caring

Last week, our Mentors and I gathered to host a community call with one of our partner organizations. As I welcomed everyone into the space, I felt a familiar flutter of nerves (yes, even after all these years, it still happens). I took a deep breath, greeted the group, and shared our usual etiquette guidelines, the ones that help us begin in a good way.

Feeling settled, I moved us into introductions and invited Mentor Jenn Smith to start us off. She turned on her mic and said gently, “...Kim, I think we’ve forgotten something. George hasn’t opened the circle in a good way.”

In that instant, my heart dropped. I’ve done this process hundreds of times. How could I forget? I thanked Jenn for catching it, apologized to George for the oversight, and invited him to open the call in a good way.

It was one of those humbling moments that remind us that no matter how experienced or prepared we are, we’re all still learners. Mistakes are part of walking this path, and so are the people who lovingly guide us back when we drift. Corrections are caring. They are not criticisms; they are acts of love.

In the days that followed the call, George reached out to me, expressing that the exchange could be a good lesson that all our readers could benefit from. With that thought in his heart, he composed the following words to share with you today.

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Often when we’re driving through unfamiliar territory, we rely on Google Maps to guide us. When the GPS is quiet, it means we’re on the right track. But when we take a wrong turn, that calm voice chimes in to tell us we’ve missed our exit and gently redirects us back to the right path.

I found myself reflecting on this while driving to a recent gathering. That familiar voice on the GPS reminded me of snuwuyulh (our teachings). In the same way we use GPS to navigate physical landscapes, we use snuwuyulh to navigate the moral and spiritual landscapes of life.

Our teachings are our internal compass. They come from generations of ancestors who walked before us, who learned through both mistakes and successes. When we’re walking in a good way and living according to those teachings, our Elders often let us be. Their silence is not absence; it is a quiet affirmation that we’re moving in the right direction. But when we stray from the path, when we act in ways that are not aligned with snuwuyulh, that is when our Elders step in. They help guide us back, not to shame us, but because they care. If they did not care, they would allow us to keep going the wrong way and watch us stumble. Their corrections are acts of love.

One of the differences I often notice between Indigenous and Western worldviews is how we view mistakes. Western society tends to chase perfection, an impossible standard that leaves little room for being human. Our teachings remind us that we are imperfect beings living in an imperfect world. Mistakes are not failures; they are teachers.

When I was in college, struggling through my first semester, I remember wanting to give up. I was not getting the grades I hoped for, and I felt like I was letting everyone down. My late mother listened patiently as I poured out my frustrations. When I was done, she asked gently, “Are you finished crying now?” I nodded. Then she said something that has stayed with me ever since:

“You did not come into this world knowing how to do all of these things. You did not know how to walk or talk, you had to learn. When you were learning to walk, I watched you fall. When you were learning to talk, I heard you mispronounce words. But you learned. You always learn.”

That teaching has followed me throughout my life. It reminds me that learning takes time, patience, and kindness, especially toward ourselves.

So as we navigate this world together, my siiye’yu (friends), let’s remember that same teaching. It is okay to mispronounce the names of Indigenous lands or to not get it right the first time. You will learn. Indigenous people notice and appreciate when someone makes an effort to say our words with care and respect. Over time, your pronunciation will get better because learning is a journey, not a destination.

And when an Elder or community member gently corrects you, know that it comes from a place of love and guidance. It is our way of helping you find your way back onto the good path. Do not be afraid to ask for help or to ask for teachings. In doing so, you are showing respect and a willingness to grow.

~ Wholwholet'za | George Harris Jr.

Reading George’s words, I can’t help but smile, because that’s exactly what Jenn did for me last week. She noticed that I had drifted from our good process, and her gentle correction brought me back.

We all need those voices in our lives — people who help us find our way back to the good path. Sometimes they’re colleagues, mentors, friends, or Elders. And sometimes, we are called to be that quiet GPS voice for someone else.

So this week, I’m holding close this teaching: Corrections are caring. They are a form of love, guidance, and connection.

🧡 Kim