The next chapter
I’m going to graduate school.
I’ve been awarded $20,000 to pursue an education opportunity beyond my wildest dreams. If younger me could see what I’m up to now, she would be so proud.
I always vaguely knew I wanted to pursue graduate school, but had no idea when, where, or what I wanted to study. Looking for some semblance of direction, I reached out to a professor from my alma mater for advice.
“If I'm interested in Indigenous studies, where should I go to learn it?” I asked.
He gave me a few options to consider in Canada, and at the bottom of his email, added:
“I’m looking for an RA (ideally with an Indigenous background) interested in doing research in Aotearoa. This would be a fantastic opportunity for someone like you, based in Aotearoa New Zealand. Just a thought in case you might be interested in exploring this…”
My initial thought was to reply “Thanks but no thanks. I have a partner in Canada, and don’t plan on moving across the world from him. Best of luck finding someone else!”.
Curiosity got the best of me. I read his research proposal and it intrigued me.
“I think I’ll apply to some schools out here”, I said, “But I’m willing to learn more about this Aotearoa New Zealand thing”.
He invited me to his next meeting with the Aotearoa New Zealand research team. The team consisted of a few professors from various universities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, and a research assistant based out of the University of British Columbia. I clicked with them instantly.
They felt the same way about me. One team member sent a private message saying, “Taylor’s just hit the jackpot”.
“I have a good feeling that this is all going to come together really well”, remarked my former professor.
I remained skeptical.
I kept the idea on the back burner and decided instead to apply to the University of British Columbia for their Gender, Race Sexuality and Social Justice (GRSJ) program, as well as the University of Victoria for their program in Indigenous Governance (IGov). Since both appealed to different sides of me, I figured I would go wherever I was accepted.
The problem was, that both schools competed for me.
UBC’s admission offer came first, followed shortly by UVic. UVic’s offer had a $5000 scholarship attached to it; when I told UBC, they matched it.
With two offers sitting in front of me and none of my Aotearoa New Zealand applications sent in yet, I had no idea what to do.
“I had a feeling this would happen,” the professor said. “You’ll be taking a chance if you say no to these and wait to apply to schools in Aotearoa New Zealand, but I really think it'll be worth it”.
I started tearing up. “But I really love my partner,” I replied, “How can I be that far from him that long?”
I was reminded that a few months away from my partner, in the grand scheme of life, was not a big deal. He pointed out that having a funded master’s degree in Aotearoa New Zealand, on the other hand, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I decided that my best course of action would be to accept one school’s offer, defer it, and then use the extra time to apply to schools in Aotearoa New Zealand.
As an activist in the queer and feminist communities, UBC’s GRSJ program appealed to me. I knew I would be exposed to a variety of fascinating viewpoints. It certainly was the school that got me more excited. The downside? I would likely be one of the few Indigenous students in the program. Indigeneity would likely only come up as an honourable mention in the broader subject of intersectionality.
UVic’s IGov program, on the other hand, would have at least 50% Indigenous student representation. I knew I would feel safe learning about my people's history, culture, and struggles amongst a like-minded cohort. However, I also knew I would be sidelining my feminist and queer research interests, which wouldn’t feel right either.
I didn’t want to have to choose between studying as a queer feminist or studying as an Indigenous person. So, I proposed an idea that could structure my graduate studies to suit me. I emailed:
“I've been toying with the idea of a mixed model recently. The Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice Masters I was accepted into has a thesis component, so my idea is to conduct my coursework at UBC, and then move to Aotearoa New Zealand to do my thesis portion of the degree. This would allow me to complete a thesis on Māori water governance in Aotearoa New Zealand, while receiving a “Canadian” degree (which makes it easier for me to apply for scholarships).”
He replied, “If the idea you are hatching gives you a greater feeling of security, and that you’re getting the most of the various options that are being offered to you, then I’d say let’s try to make it work!”
It was settled. I would be going to the University of British Columbia and the University of Canterbury.
This September, I am starting my Master of Arts in Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice at the University of British Columbia. Getting to go to UBC is special. I know I’m going to mesh well with my faculty, my cohort, and the university at large. Seeing my lush, vibrant campus in person made me feel solid in my decision.
In January, I’ll be moving somewhere else lush and vibrant- the city of Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand. There, I’ll be working as a guest researcher at the University of Canterbury’s Ngāi Tahu Center, writing my thesis on Māori water governance.
There are striking parallels between the environmental degradation that has happened to my homelands and on Maori territory. My master’s degree is an opportunity for me to learn from a fellow Indigenous community and bring their knowledge home to help my own.
—
My mom recently gifted me a pair of monarch butterfly earrings. Inside their box, she wrote me a letter about the multi-generational migration journey monarch butterflies make.
“You’re finishing our family’s journey”, she told me.
The Indian Act prohibited my grandmother from being educated beyond the 8th grade. My mom was a trailblazer in our family when she went off to university. Now I will be the first to get a graduate degree. My educational journey has always been as much about me as it has been about my ancestors.
Truth be told, I’m feeling all kinds of nervous to be embarking into new territory, both in education and my (soon to be) location. There’s lots to think about, and I don’t yet have all the answers to the worries running through my head.
However, here are the things I do know for certain:
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I’m thrilled to be taking on.
Learning, growing, and making new connections are exactly what I need at this stage of my life.
I have a great team of mentors around me, both here on Turtle Island and in Aotearoa.
I’ve got a partner whose love for me spans the world, and we’ll be continuing our long-distance journey together while I’m away.
No matter what, my ancestors are looking out for me.
