Year: 2017 – Province: British Columbia
Certificate of Achievement Recipient
L.A. Matheson Secondary
9484 122nd Street
Surrey, British Columbia V3V 4M1
Principal: Rex Hayes
School telephone: 604-588-3418
School email: ohana_a@surreyschools.ca
School website: lamatheson.ca
Subjects and grades taught: Grade 8-12, Aboriginal advocate, social studies, social justice
Annie Ohana is far beyond a teacher – she is an advocate for her students, a champion for her community and an original thinker. Taking her pedagogy to the next level, Annie brings curriculum to life in a way that is all encompassing, life changing, and empowering for her students, her colleagues, the school and the community.
Teaching approach
An Aboriginal Teacher Advocate and a Social Justice Curriculum Specialist, Ohana practices what she preaches and isn't afraid to teach about the "real world". A believer in interdisciplinary learning, she will infuse Aboriginal content into her classroom using the medicine wheel or ask her students how science and math can bring out the creative power of language.
Outstanding achievements
- Ohana regularly works with businesses and community groups to pull together social justice based events with her students, and to build relevant curriculum that address Indigenous issues, LGBTQ issues, mental health, sanctuary schools, poverty, Israel-Palestine curriculum and more.
- Ohana developed a mentorship program with feeder schools that centres on identity, leadership, positive communication and respect. Students develop workshops for younger students, bannock breakfasts provide a safe space for exchange, and students of all levels participate on field trips together.
- Ohana also worked with math professors at Simon Fraser University to develop an Aboriginal math workshop that brought together teachers from across Surrey and taught them how to infuse aboriginal content in authentic ways. She has also developed internationally used curriculum around the Israel-Palestine Conflict, anti-poverty, and cultures of peace.
Rave reviews
[Ohana's] expert delivery of these new materials has found resonance with those interested in brining diverse communities together in trusting relationships around common values and shared histories amongst educators, across schools, academia and the heritage sector."
"Annie is a respectful and inspiring mentor who has supported me ever since my first days in Canada when I migrated from Mexico. Without her I would definitely not be where I am today."