Shad Alums share what Shad and competing in the North American Indigenous Games in Halifax taught them about personal growth, community and pursuing their goals
Brooklyn Ouellette has long been interested in her Indigenous roots. Her Grandpa had been the member of her family most deeply connected to that part of her heritage, and when he passed away when Brooklyn was little, she felt she lost an important link to that part of her family’s culture. So, when Brooklyn had the opportunity to compete in the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), she was excited to be able to explore her connection to this incredible network of Indigenous communities.
“I didn’t really grow up with my culture because my grandpa was the most connected to our Indigenous roots and he passed away when I was young. So, to be a part of the Indigenous Games and have a chance to go and immerse myself in my culture was something I really wanted to do.”
Pursuing opportunities that provide for personal growth and learning is something that Brooklyn is naturally inclined towards and part of why she applied to attend Shad this past summer. Having always loved STEAM subjects at school, she felt Shad would give her a chance to explore those interests more deeply while also meeting youths from across the country.
“I really like math and science. So, when I heard about Shad I thought ‘oh, this will be fun to go and explore and learn more about the subjects that I’m interested in’. And being able to see another part of Canada and meet new people was exciting.”
The North American Indigenous Games were hosted in Halifax in 2023, the year Brooklyn competed, which helped to foster that love of experiencing different parts of the country. In Canada, NAIG teams are organized by province, so different Indigenous communities within a province compete together under one banner. Brooklyn tried out for Alberta’s soccer team and was selected to be a team member for the 2023 games.
“The games are this huge thing, with over 5000 Indigenous athletes. We had a big opening ceremony, and we all got to interact with each other a little bit more. I was able to meet this whole community of Indigenous athletes from all over, which was incredible.”
Not only do the games provide athletes the opportunity to showcase their spirit and athletic ability in their respective sports, but the event also provides opportunities for community representatives to share aspects of their Indigenous culture and traditions, which Brooklyn loved.
“It was almost surreal getting to watch all the dances and just listening to all the Elders speaking. Before we left for the games, we made these different arts and crafts with one of my teammate’s Kokum (Grandmother). We made these little pouches out of elk hide and it was just so cool to learn all the meaning behind it.”
For Brooklyn, the experience provided amazing insight into a part of herself that she had felt removed from since the loss of her grandfather. Being able to engage with that aspect of her identity with others who shared both her heritage and love of sports was something special.
“It was an amazing experience to be able to share with all these other girls who were super kind, while also getting to know more Indigenous people and hang out with Elders and learn more about my culture.”
Spending this time in Halifax, away from home on her own, helped to prepare Brooklyn for her summer at Shad, when she travelled to Ottawa to attend the program’s Carleton University campus. The personal growth she experienced during her time at the NAIG encouraged her to embrace more such opportunities, which she found at Shad as she explored post-secondary life.
“Shad is great because you get to meet all these amazing people while living out this awesome opportunity of getting to see what it’s like to live on campus and go to classes and meet different professors to see what you’re interested in studying. I feel like both Shad and the Indigenous Games helped me feel more independent, like I am ready to do things on my own.”
Raina Garland, who also competed in the 2023 NAIG as a member of the track and field team from Manitoba, was quick to second Brooklyn’s view of the Shad experience. “Shad was my first time doing a summer program that wasn’t just like a weeklong day camp, and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
Like Brooklyn, Raina experienced her first solo travel the summer before Shad when she also attended the NAIG in Halifax with her teammates from Manitoba. She saw the games as an opportunity to connect with her Métis roots and was excited to compete in such a special event with peers from other Indigenous communities across her home province.
“When I decided to try out for Manitoba’s track and field team, I thought how great it would be to spend a week and a half in Halifax with a bunch of other Indigenous athletes from Canada, the U.S., and some from Mexico, and we’d all just get to connect as a community.”
Raina has always loved sports, and having the opportunity to come together with other Indigenous youth to showcase their talents felt very meaningful. She enjoys nurturing her innate interests, and being able to take sport to the next level at such a big competition is an experience she’ll never forget. “It was incredible to look around at the opening ceremony and see so many different people coming together in one place.”
Spending time with people pursuing a common goal is a theme Raina also found at Shad. She loved spending the summer with peers who shared her passion for STEAM and her love of community. She found the diversity at Shad to be one of the richest aspects of the experience.
“It was awesome to meet so many different students from different parts of the country. Everyone had different experiences, and we were able to share that with each other and learn from each other, especially with all the group work and collaboration.”
For both Raina and Brooklyn, participating in the NAIG and Shad allowed them to pursue personal growth in similar ways, drawing from each experience lessons on perseverance, community, and the opportunities available to those who follow their dreams. They hope to share these lessons with their peers and encourage them to embrace life’s challenges.
“I’m so glad I did it, both the NAIG and Shad, because I feel like I have grown in so many ways,” shared Brooklyn. “There aren’t a lot of opportunities like these, so it’s important to grab them when they come because you never know what might happen and where it might lead.”
