From Student to Teacher: UBC Okanagan Grad Reclaims Culture as an Educator

Kara Ross walks the halls of W.L. Seaton Secondary in Vernon, B.C., with a quiet sense of purpose.

It's the same school she attended as a teenager – but this time, she's at the front of the classroom.  

Ross, a Syilx educator from the Okanagan Nation and a teacher in the Vernon School District, is doing something she never got to experience as a student here: teaching the Okanagan Nsyilxcn Language at the secondary level. And that, she says, is everything.  

"I'm teaching what I wish I had in high school. Our kids deserve to keep learning their language. It's their right."  

Growing up on the Okanagan reserve, Ross was immersed in her culture early on. She attended a cultural immersion elementary school, where she practiced the Syilx language daily. But the language disappeared from the curriculum when she moved on to high school.  

"I had to seek out Elders to keep learning," she recalls. "That connection to language should never have to stop."  

One of those Elders, who taught Ross as a child, told her she would one day become a language teacher. It was a simple, powerful moment that stayed with her.   

"I took it to heart. And now, here I am."    

Bridging the Gap – One Lesson at a Time  

The Nsyilxcn class is now one of the few high school-level programs of its kind in the region. What started as a single course has now doubled in size. Students – both Indigenous and non-Indigenous – are eager to learn, and many return year after year.  

"It's not just about vocabulary," Ross explains. "When students learn their language, they learn who they are. It builds confidence, identity, and connection."  

But creating this program hasn't been easy.  

Unlike other language courses, Syilx doesn't come with a ready-made curriculum. Ross has had to build lesson plans and resources from scratch, all while teaching without a fluent speaker by her side.  

Fluent Syilx speakers are few and far between due to the impacts of colonialism. The language and culture loss caused by the Residential school system are part of the intergenerational trauma some of her students carry.  

"It is called 'blood memory,'" Ross says. "It's the pain of our language being taken from us. That makes it harder to learn. There's a lot to unlearn before we can speak freely again."  

Across Canada, First Nations communities are leading vibrant, collective efforts to revitalize their languages. These initiatives are deeply rooted in cultural resurgence, intergenerational healing and community-driven education. 

Teaching in Community, Teaching with Heart  

Ross earned her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of British Columbia Okanagan, where she took courses in Indigenous Studies and built connections with professors who understood the cultural significance of her work. One mentor, Dr. Bill Cohen, a fellow Syilx educator, will soon become her advisor as she begins her Master of Education.  

Her practicum brought Ross back to the community she grew up in, and her classrooms have been filled with students she has known since they were little.  

These existing relationships have strengthened their connections and foster an environment where students feel safe taking risks. Some, who've never spoken up in other classes, read aloud with pride.  

"We don't force anything. We meet each other where we are. That's how we grow."  

Building a Future for the Next Generation of Educators  

Ross is now setting her sights on something bigger. Through her master's work, she's building a toolkit to support Indigenous educators – something she wishes she'd had when she started.  

"There's no roadmap for teaching Indigenous language and culture. You're doing everything from scratch. I want to change that for the next generation."  

Her advice to young Indigenous people considering a career in education?  

"We can do hard things. Stay close to your roots. There's room for you, and your community needs you."  

She also wants to remind aspiring educators that there's no "one way" to do this work.  

"University is more flexible than people think. There are hybrid programs, supportive instructors, and room to design a path that fits you. Don't let fear stop you."  

And for those who think teaching teenagers is intimidating …

"It's not scary," she smiles. "People stereotype teens, but they're amazing. And they need teachers who see their potential."  

A Career Filled with Meaning and Purpose 

For Ross, teaching is more than a job. It's a calling.  

"I never get the 'Sunday Scaries.' I actually look forward to work. It's fun, it's challenging, and it's meaningful."  

And perhaps most importantly, it's healing.  

Because every word spoken in Syilx is an act of resistance, every sentence learned is a step toward reclaiming something stolen. And every student who walks out of Ross's classroom with their head held a little higher proves the work is worth it.  

Interested in learning more about Indigenous language revitalization or becoming an educator in your community? There are resources and programs to support you, including the University of British Columbia Okanagan, where Ross completed her education degree.