Cree educator receives Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence

Amanda Jobb, a Grade 2 teacher at awâsisak kâ-nîmîhtocik St. Francis School, has received a Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence Certificate of Achievement for “bringing Cree language and culture to life.” 

Originally from Southend (wâpâtikociwanohk in Cree) on the southern end of Reindeer Lake (atikosâkahikanihk in Cree), in northern Saskatchewan near the Manitoba border, Amanda describes herself as a “mom of three, wife to Austin, and child of the Lord.”

Teaching has always been in her family, but not necessarily in heart. She saw her mom, a teacher for 30 years, put in long hours. Her mom’s passion and care for students changed her heart. “I saw my mom, the way she worked, and I was like, ‘Wow! I want to do that.’ So, she inspired me.”

After years of taking care of her children and working temporary jobs, the pull to teaching became too strong to resist. “My kids were growing up fast, and I needed to do something else. I needed them to see what their mom could do. I wanted to make them proud. I started thinking, ‘You know what? I want to be a teacher.’ I prayed about it, and I got a lot of support from my husband and children.”

Making the move to Saskatoon, Amanda went through the Indian Teacher Education Program (ITEP) at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Education to become a teacher.

A citation on the Prime Minister’s Award website describes Amanda as a “dedicated Cree educator whose teaching blends language, culture and academic excellence in powerful and meaningful ways. She plays a vital role in strengthening Cree language and identity within the school community while helping young learners build strong reading, math and social‑emotional skills.”

awâsisak kâ-nîmîhtocik St. Francis School, home to Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools’ Cree bilingual program, seems like a natural place for her to do that. The school and programming were designed to highlight Cree language and cultural elements.

“The first thing I want is for the classroom to be a cozy, comfortable, clean place for students. We’re there all day, so I want to create an inviting and safe place for them.”

Amanda and her colleagues decorate their pod, an area connecting classrooms that same-grade teachers share, with various elements that express Cree language, culture and traditions.

“Every day we need to show students the culture, their background, the generations before us. Up north, when we did land-based learning we were able to do various things like take the kids out on a dog sled to be on the land. We can’t necessarily do that here, so we bring it into the classroom. My dad was a trapper; he gave me some furs to bring into the classroom for the students.”

After first learning about the award, Amanda stated she was “excited, shocked, and of course I cried.” She doesn’t think it will affect her teaching, but she said it is “always nice to be recognized” and “I’m so blessed.” 

She is quick to share accolades with her colleagues and all teachers who “work so hard and are here for students.” Her advice: “Be yourself. Don’t hold back. Just keep going. It’s in your heart.”