Vesa Peltonen Publishing Releases Book about a Non-native Teacher's Experiences in N.W. Ontario's Aboriginal Reserves

THUNDER BAY, ON, CANADA, September 01, 2010

'Culturally Submerged' reflects the experiences of being a teacher learning the ways of another culture, in N.W. Ontario, with adventure, musings, unexpected experiences and challenges. It is whimsical, perplexing, to perhaps shocking to some. He had been an instructor off and on over 10 years in 'fly-in' communities or drive in ones which were closer to his home. These First Nation communities he taught in were scattered far north of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
As a teacher, he tries to understand the culture and then realizes he too has to adapt much the same way as aboriginal people do, when they make the journey into another place. Much as to do with people and behavior being similar in all cultures, not just Ojibway.

Peltonen found that even though he had been in many different cultures around the world, such as in Morocco, North Africa, having similar experiences which helped him to adapt and understand the ways of Ojiway and Ojibway/Cree Indians. However the same freedom was obviously not there, as opposed to travelling freely in foreign countries. He did begin to have separation anxiety, and isolation syndrome to depression sometimes. However. after all, his 'emotional intelligence' helped him focus on his duties. Perseverance, and finding creative outlets, helped him become a 'survivor' rather than a victim of the circumstances he faced. This is what he taught students ironically, that when they leave their community to further education, they need to be a 'survivor' also. They must also keep faith in themselves and find support. A most fascinating set of stories. Few book have been written for this standpoint focused on aboriginal culture.

This set of stories taken from author Peltonen's experiences in many small to large First Nation Communities in N.W. Ontario is a must read. It is written in a style that takes different situations without having to necessarily identify the place. The experiences he relates is like being altered through a mirror into another community where he continues the story themes, as for example when he talks about the many types of situations of things being set on fire. Most disturbing but these situations relevant in these aboriginal communities he explains well, as why they occur.