Canada 68/150: Evan Taypotat

By Siobhan Cole

For many service people, when the time comes to returning back home, immediately thinking of giving back to your community and teaching kids is not the first thought that springs to mind.

Then again, Evan Taypotat isn’t your average guy.

Currently the principal of Chief Kahkewistahaw Community School, Evan started pursuing a career in the military in 2007. He had advanced as far as captain and had his sights set on being a major.

However, when the Canadian military ceased combat operations in Kandahar in 2011, he knew it was time to come home. His next mission? Giving back to his community, those on the First Nations reserve he grew up on.

How would his military career shape his leadership of school kids? Evans laughs – it’s not the first time he’s been asked this question. “I had done some teaching before, and had done some in the army”, he explains. “When it was time to come home, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. Not many people were doing that. But the transition from army to civilian life had to be done. Working towards being a major wasn’t going to help my community.”

Evan detailed his initial time at the school: his first task was cleaning up both students and staff. Prior leadership, says Evan delicately, was not the style he would be continuing. Now, students call him Uncle, or simply Evan.

He explains that the dynamic of every reserve is different, but on theirs, a key motivator is tough love. “In the military, we got told to do things all the time. I do the same, but I give the bigger picture. I stress to kids that marks for transcripts matter. This is their future.”

The same philosophy applies to staff. “I want to maximize potential”, say Evan earnestly. “I want people who don’t just do the bare minimum. I don’t sugar-coat anything. We hire the best educators and staff – there are no favourites here.”

Everyone functioning as a team is part of what makes things work as a whole, but it’s not without difficulties.

“We need to ensure that kids get the proper education”, he says. “My biggest challenge is getting parents on board – they had a bad residential school experience, or they don’t place any emphasis on it at home.”

Funding is another hurdle. Citing a yearly shortfall of $795,000, Evan says that kids in this town of Broadview, SK are being asked to do the same things with fewer opportunities than those of their properly-funded peers. While he is writing a thesis on the current indigenous funding gap as part of studies at the University of Regina, his day-to-day reinforces the need for equality. “You see the differences” remarks Evan quietly. “Let’s fund our kids.”

Despite all this, Evan has a positive mindset. “My mentality on life is simple; it’s the same now as it was in the military. We don’t care about your race; we just want you to do the job.

Resources:

• Afghanistan experience will shape future for soldier when he returns
• Canada's role in the Afghanistan War
• Chief Kahkewistahaw Community School
• Meet CBC Saskatchewan Future 40 winner Evan Taypotat