Sandi L Boucher, a member of Seine River First Nation, shares the sixth personal power principle from Anishinaabe teachings: give others time to adjust to your uniqueness.
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Foreign. Hi, everybody. My name is Sandy Boucher. I'm Red Thunderbolt, woman of the Loon clan, a proud member of Seine River First Nation in Northern Ontario. And I am here this week with the sixth of 12 principles of personal power. We are halfway through the year, and I'm not. I don't want to think about what that means. Just gonna enjoy the summer. Right now, we're gonna focus on that. But I did want to comment on how much I appreciate you if you saw last week's video. I explained how and why reconciliation expert like me does personal power videos and how these videos and setting myself up as a guide and a teacher really helps break stereotypes. The Canadians were taught that indigenous teachings weren't of value. Yet these principles are rooted in my Anishinaabe teachings. The fact that I have a success, successful career shatters stereotypes. And the fact that you're willing to listen and embrace these teachings and apply them in any way you see fit to your life just warms my heart. I serve you. I am here to help you. That's what I was raised to do. And if these principles help you, then I'm doing my job. And that makes me incredibly happy. But I have babbled long enough because I bet you're dying to hear what June's principle is. So here it is. You don't have to wait any longer. Give others time to get used to you. They have never met anyone like you before. Give them time to adjust. How many times in our lives have we felt that we didn't fit in and jump to the conclusion that that meant there was something wrong with us? And that couldn't be farther from the truth. You are beautiful. You are unique. You are different from every other person out there because you're supposed to be. And if I met you in real life, assuming that I haven't already, and I know some people on this list I have met. But if I haven't met you and I was meeting you for the first time, maybe I wouldn't know. Maybe I would talk too fast and that makes you uncomfortable. Maybe I would talk too slow. And you interpret that as me being condescending. Maybe I'm too hyper and I make you nervous. Whatever the case case may be, that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you. It just means I haven't met you yet. And I don't know what makes you comfy. But guess what? If I want to be your friend, if I want to walk on this path with you, then I'm gonna get to know what works for you. I'm not gonna change the person I am, but I'm sure gonna change how I speak and act when I'm around you. Just because I want you. Comfy? I shouldn't be someone you have to endure. I shouldn't be challenging unless I want to be. To make a point. But you get my drift. Give other people the time to get used to you. As an indigenous person. As an indigenous woman, I often find myself in surroundings where I am the only indigenous woman there, the only indigenous person there. And often people don't know what they should say or can. They ask a question. And that's okay. I'm not going to judge them for that. They've just never met anyone like me before. Trust me. When I was in Finland, I got asked some interesting questions. Why? Because they weren't used to me yet. And I have some stories to reinforce this teacher teaching this month. It's going to be an amazing month. And it should be because it's indigenous month. It's June. Okay, so there you have it. One more time. The sixth personal power principle is give others time to get used to you. They have never met anyone like you before. Give them time to adjust. Think about this principle as you go through your week. As you meet someone new, as you feel that uncomfortableness, as you notice that maybe they're uncomfortable, doesn't mean either of you are wrong. You're just not used to each other yet. Until next week. I love you. Talk to you soon. Bye. Bye. Sam.
