User:AmberShaw

Weaver (Amber) Shaw
Lecturer, Academic English Program (Science)
UBC Vantage College
amber.shaw@ubc.ca

My Land Acknowledgement

xʷməm̓qʷe:m at sunrise

xʷməm̓qʷe:m (Camosun Bog) is located on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nation. This is the beautiful place where I sleep, eat, work, rest, breathe, meditate, and grow. It is with deep gratitude that I acknowledge The Peoples, The Energies, and The Ways of Being and Knowing that have and continue to caretake This Sacred Land. I am humbled and honoured for the opportunity to live and be on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations.

My Body Acknowledgement

I was born and received a privileged, but deeply flawed, white education on the Traditional Lands of the Powhatan People. I have Passport Privileges with The United States and Canada. I engage with this world as a Queer, but white person, of many privileges including Vaccine Privilege. I benefit in every aspect of my life from the social constructs of white supremacy and straight passing privilege. My thoughts/thinking and therefore my actions are constrained by colonial languages including “Standard” English. I acknowledge that thinking in colonial languages and constructs has and continues to damage Marginalized Peoples, the Earth, all environments, myself, and privileged people themselves. I hear and feel Peoples of Colour, Indigenous Peoples, Queer Peoples, and Peoples of All types of Knowing and Being crying out in desperation: “Land Back”, “I Can’t Breathe”, “215 Children, 500 Children, 1,000 Children, 1,800 Children…”. I acknowledge my accountability and responsibility for white supremacy, colonialism, and capitalism. I oppose and resist these that are enacted in my name by supporting co-op communities, growing and eating a vegan diet, contributing and freely sharing my work through Creative Commons, actively protesting without social media recognition, paying Black and Indigenous Scholars, Teachers, and Coaches for their wisdom, time and patience, and searching out opportunities to live my life in better harmony.

About

Teacher, Scholar, Writer, Advocate, Indigenous Ally, Mum, Volunteer, Vegan Foodie, Lover of Co-ops, Local Farms, Fair Wages, Pride, My Dog, and Science (Fiction).

I LOVE WRITING! It is messy and creative and never, ever, finished. You can do anything with writing - tell stories, explore histories, argue politics, connect with audiences, make people laugh, and learn more about any subject by writing about it. One of my favourite subjects to write about is Co-ops.

I have been interested in Co-ops and the Principles behind them for the past twenty years. Co-ops can offer alternative community based options for just about everything - from housing to groceries to driving. Vancouver has given me so many wonderful Co-op options in the city. I am always happy to chat about Co-op opportunities and other ways to get involved in the local communities here.

Teaching and Research Interests

Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Curriculum and Materials Design, Inclusion & Equity, Indigenizing the Curriculum Phonetics and Phonology, and Systemic Functional Linguistics.

Working in the Academic English Program combines my love of teaching with my passion for linguistics. My main focus is in creating active, student centered, and participatory learning spaces through the design of innovative curriculum and materials. I am also largely interested in researching, writing, and developing resources for minority group students