“When I left Inuvik to come to Whitehorse for the YNTEP/BEAD program, I didn’t fully realize how life-changing it would be. The program gave me the tools I needed to become a teacher, but it also gave me something even more important: a deeper connection to who I am and where I come from.

One of the most powerful parts of my experience was the culture camps — being out on the land, learning from Elders and knowledge holders, and connecting with other future Indigenous educators. It reminded me of the strength and beauty in our ways of knowing. It wasn’t just about earning a degree. It was about reconnecting, healing and preparing to bring that strength back to our communities.

I plan to teach in the North and with that I carry those experiences with me every day. I’m proud to be back where I started, giving back to the youth and helping them see the value in their own stories too.”