b'INDSPIRE YOUTH LAUREATETell us about your journey intowith the Canada Graduateyou want to do (even to start your education and what inspired youScholarshipDoctoral Programjourney), build a support network. to become a teacher. through SSHRC. Its a big deal inConnect with Indigenous Resource Ive wanted to be a teacher since Iacademiaand yes, a very proudCentres at the schools youre was eight years oldand my gollynerd-a-licious moment! applying to, and seek help writing goodness, I achieved that dreamapplications for admissions, schol-and more! I graduated with myWhat advice would you sharearships and awards.Bachelor of Education from Mountwith Indigenous youth interested Royal University in 2019. DuringAlso, understand how student my practicum teaching Grade 8in education? loans work, and make a repayment in southern Alberta, teachersEducation is both expensive and aplan if needed. But with hard work began coming to me for help withprivilege, so honour your passionsand a passionate mind, you can the First Nations, Inuit and Mtisfirst. Once you figure out whatachieve anything.curriculum. Thats when I realized I wasnt just meant to teach youthI needed to teach teachers.I began my Master of Education that fall, focusing on addressing Truth Before Reconciliation in education. In 2021, I started my PhD, which Im still working on. My thesis supports Mtis-specific outcomes, values and pedago-gies in teacher education and the classroom.Post-secondary educationit sucks you in. I am also immensely passionate about what I am researching, so this helps a lot. Im also a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa, where I teach First Nations, Inuit and Mtis education to pre-service teachers. It feels full circlethis was my original goal when I started my masters, and now Im living it. Im excited to see what will happen next and am just listening to where Creator guides me. I wouldnt be here without the love and support of my family,T oT hrivefriends and my supervisor, Dr. Nicholas Ng-A-Fook. It has taken a community to get me here, and the work I do will always be in service for them, especially for all they have done for me. We partner with Indigenous nations to empower all Indigenous Ive also applied for many scholar- students in achieving their educational goals and graduating. ships and awards. RupertslandWith over 150 programs and new micro-credentials offering Institute funded the last year ofhands-on and online learning, our students are leading the way.my BEd, and for my masters, I received Indspires Buildingcentennialcollege.caBrighter Futures support. For my PhD, I was honoured 2025indspiration17'