Erica Thompson is a settler Canadian who comes to us from Nova Scotia. With teaching experience in Manitoba, Nunavut, and 9 years in the Beaufort Delta Region she is honored to live and teach on the traditional lands of the Gwich’in and Inuvialuit people. Erica has a Masters of Education in Land-Based Indigenous Studies from the University of Saskatchewan. She has spent a great deal of time teaching in multi-grade contexts in small remote Indigenous communities and has organized frequent land trips with Elders and students from across this region. She draws on the knowledge and wisdom shared with her during her teaching years in the Delta as the Indigenizing Education Coordinator with BDDEC.
Erica’s educational philosophy weaves the foundational importance of community traditions, knowledge and worldview with curricular learning experiences and resources, always celebrating individual talents, and encouraging teachers to instill leadership and build resiliency in students so that they may navigate the realities of walking in two worlds. In addition to working closely with the Regional Indigenous Languages and Education Consultant (RILE), Erica is also the Literacy 7-12 Coordinator for BDDEC. The integration of these two portfolios is a unique and valuable feature of BDDEC programs.