The Teachings We Cant Put Down

Two weeks ago, I was on vacation.

It was a Wednesday, and I had a pregame call scheduled with our Mentor team at 6pm. For those unfamiliar, a pregame call is what we call our preparation meetings before a Community Call. It’s a space where the Mentors and I come together to strategise our approach for the questions that have come forward, ground ourselves, centre our intentions, and ensure we’re showing up in a good way.

I spent that entire day thinking about that call – checking where I would have cell service, planning every outing so I’d be back in time, and testing my hotspot signal repeatedly to make sure I could join from my laptop at exactly 6pm. I didn’t want to miss it. I felt a responsibility to be there.

When I joined the call from a rest stop overlooking the Astoria-Megler Bridge, George acknowledged my commitment. He saw that I had carved out space in the middle of my vacation to be there. But what he shared next sat heavy with me, in the very best way.

He said:

" You know, Kim, for Indigenous people, there is no vacation from our teachings, our responsibilities, or our challenges. We carry them wherever we go. It’s who we are. This work you’re doing, it’s not just a job. You’re being entrusted to walk alongside us. That means carrying it with you too – with the same level of responsibility."

~ Wholwholet'za

His words landed deeply. And it truly is an honour to be entrusted with this work.

It reminds me that this isn’t something I can put down when it’s inconvenient or when I’m tired. It’s not just a calendar event, a contract, or a project milestone.

It’s about trust.It’s about relationships.It’s about walking with teachings, even when no one is watching.

And I think about how this applies beyond my own journey, too.

For those of us working in spaces of cultural safety, reconciliation, or community care – it can be tempting to compartmentalise this work. To treat it like any other job, something we leave behind at the end of the day.

But the truth is, choosing when to pick the work up and when to put it down is a reflection of privilege. Because for Indigenous Peoples, there is no choice – their teachings, responsibilities, and challenges walk with them always.

These teachings change how we move through the world. They shape how we speak to people. How we hold ourselves accountable. How we honour the responsibilities that come with the privilege of doing this work.

I may not carry the same teachings, responsibilities, or lived realities as Indigenous Peoples. But I do have a responsibility to carry my part – with consistency, determination, and integrity.

🧡 Kim