Community Builder Grant

Lexie finds grounding in building and joining communities wherever she goes. Her community building journey began with non-profit boards, leading to co-founding The Comeback Society and podcast, and eventually creating a grassroots Indigenous youth climbing program called Mistasiniy.

Now Lexie is focused on fostering meaningful connections and experiences in the mountains. She’s working with the Soul of Miistaki Mountain Mentorship Program, which aims to dismantle barriers and build a community of Indigenous and BIPOC individuals through backcountry skiing instruction and engagement with local Elders in the Bow Valley.

“Community building holds great importance to me, as it is rooted in the values of belonging, respect, and love. Frequently transitioning from place to place, the ability to create and join Indigenous communities wherever I go provides me with much-needed solace. Ultimately, a sense of community has the power to enrich and transform our lives for the better.”

Canmore, AB

Tia’s connection to her community is still being developed, as her mother was a Sixties Scoop survivor, which severed ties to their home and heritage. Moving back to Brokenhead Ojibway Nation as a teenager, Tia began to understand the importance of community bonds and has since built a supportive and enriching community both at home and away.

She is dedicated to every community she joins, having served on the Treaty One Youth Council and volunteered with the UBC AMS Indigenous Committee. Recently awarded the prestigious UBC Wesbrook Scholar title, Tia aims to pursue a master’s in education or educational psychology to support Indigenous student and community success, inspiring others through her perseverance.

“A strong community with good leadership can drive success and healing. I have witnessed my community heal its members, including myself.  Ensuring my community remains strong and healthy is crucial for the longevity of our people.”

Vancouver, BC

Jayden is a graphic designer and beadwork artist, who uses her social media platform to engage with others in craft and Indigenous language revitalization, teaching skills passed down from ancestors. After starting online workshops during the pandemic, she now hosts in-person workshops and participates in a BIPOC mentorship program, helping reconnect Indigenous kin with their culture through beading. 

As an adopted Anishinaabe youth, she has found it challenging to find a community, but her reconnecting journey since 2017 has been deeply healing and fulfilling. Through her beadwork and social media presence, Jayden has built a supportive community of individuals with similar experiences. She aspires to create video tutorials showcasing Indigenous crafts, including sewing, moccasin making and traditional regalia making.

“There is a saying in our community that ‘beading is medicine’ and I wanted to share this passion of mine in hopes to help others, as it has truly been a blessing and a foundational pillar of my career.”

N’Swakamok, ON

Cassondra is a mother, land defender and water protector active in her communities of Listuguj and Kitigan Zibi. She’s an advocate for Indigenous human rights, such as access to clean and safe drinking water, and is studying law at Dalhousie University, making waves wherever she goes.

She recently organized a series of water ceremonies with grandmothers and ceremony holders along the Anishinabeg Territory. Cassondra plans to hold future ceremonies in Mi’gmagi and create Mi’gmaq language resources for children. These ceremonies will have the protocol of a sacred ceremony involving tobacco offerings, fire-keeping, ceremony and a potluck feast.

“I firmly believe you don’t know where you’re going in life unless you know where you come from. Elders in my community have shared this sentiment and truly live by these words.”

Listuguj, QC

Cheyenne is a community builder who engages diverse groups through various university programs and societies. At St. Francis Xavier University, she serves on the executive teams of the Indigenous and Best Buddies societies. She also participates in the KMC Blades learn-to-skate program, supports the X-Project to help Indigenous and African American communities, and works as a student athletic therapist and lab assistant for programs that engage first-generation university students from Paqtnkek First Nation.

Cheyenne is dedicated to making the mini u program sustainable, helping Indigenous students experience university life early, understand their options and encourage them to pursue higher education.

“Community building is so important because it brings everyone together to get to know one another and get rid of barriers that we as Indigenous people face in communities. Also, it provides opportunities for others to learn about our culture.”

Shalath, NS

Connor is a community builder who is motivated to inspire high school students living on reserves to seek post-secondary education.  Living by the seven generations’ ideology, he aims to spread awareness of STEM careers and mentor others, advocating for the establishment of STEM workshops in collaboration with multiple reserves.

Over the summer of 2023, he worked with his community of Walpole Island, participating in chief and council planning meetings and advancing the warming shelter project to completion. Currently involved in a research project, he aims to bridge the gap between technical knowledge and traditional teachings and plans to continue supporting his community in renewable energy and sustainable development.

“I want to help spread awareness throughout various communities for STEM careers, as we need to start building our communities and have members interested in these fields. I feel the need to help others get these roles that I have gained.”

Walpole Island First Nation, ON

Shayla is passionate about Indigenous resurgence and revitalization. She’s a community builder who integrates her ancestral language into all aspects of her life, sharing the beauty of Statimc ways and language. Driven by a desire to give back to the land and Indigenous peoples, she collaborates with various communities and organizations, blending Indigenous wisdom with Western education to bridge cultural gaps and sustain traditions.

Feeling a deep connection to her Statimc Nation through language and cultural education, Shayla shares this connection by speaking at conferences and sharing her native plant consulting business with her community. She has a long-term goal of establishing a native plant nursery.

“Such a space would serve as a community resource for education, cultural preservation, and ecological restoration. I want to build and strengthen our Indigenous community, ensuring that our cultural knowledge and practices are preserved and shared with future generations.”

Sekw’el’was, BC

Oakley takes a leadership role as a community builder. She’s a member of her school district’s Indigenous student leadership council and leads initiatives that ensure Indigenous youth feel welcomed and valued. By organizing inclusive programs and cultural events, Oakley empowers other youth to embrace their heritage, preserve cultural identity and inspire future leaders.She aspires to start a small media business focused on filmmaking to support, uplift and amplify Indigenous voices. Her goal is to create high-quality films that showcase the strength and diversity of Indigenous communities.

“Community helps me connect with my culture, get support and allow my voice to be heard. Being part of my community lets me learn from our elders and other leaders, which helps keep our traditions and languages alive. Having this connection makes me feel proud of who I am and where I come from.”

Cowichan, BC