Growing up in a bad home, I was left taking care of myself at a young age, I struggled with my identity my whole life, never quite accepting my gender at birth, as well as worries about my place in the world. Graduating high school in 2020 as an Arts and Culture Major honor student. When I graduated and moved out of my abusive home, I was allowed to explore and connect to my heritage, as well as Mother Earth herself, It gives me an outlet to express myself and my love for the natural world which I have always felt more connected to than humanity.

I had always known about my indigenous/native American roots but never in detail as my parents weren’t part of any belief system, this as well as my small family circle, and home issues made it hard for me to learn about this side of me.

A certain charity agency known as Endayaan Awejaa of Ontario, Canada was one of my most invaluable resources, and I am forever grateful and in debt to them for the wisdom and experiences they have shared with me.

My blood roots are from Metis (Mikmaw) and First Nation (Algonquin) but I consider myself most connected and engrained with the nation of Nipissing (Niipsing), this is due to me being raised in Nipissing my whole life, never living outside of the area, which results in me being most familiar with traditions and rituals of the nation, I wish to note my understanding of not being blood-related, and my place as an outsider. I am forever thankful for Nipissing First Nation and the endless (and hopefully future) experiences and wisdom they have shared with me.

Thank you for reading! Miigwetch!