The goal of Hotıì ts’eeda’s summer student program is to build capacity for young Indigenous students with an interest in health, research and Indigenous methodologies. In 2019, we supported five summer students, in Inuvik, Yellowknife and Fort Smith.

Four summer students reflected on what they learned working for Hotıì ts’eeda and how it has changed their thinking on health and research. Their thoughts are below.

Sheryl Liske, Indigenous Women’s Health Stories Project Researcher

"I am a born and raised Yellowknifer of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation attending the University of Alberta. I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to work with Shelley Wiart, supported by the Hotıì t’seeda NWT SPOR Support Unit, on her digital storytelling research project Legacy: Indigenous Women’s Health Stories. It was a fantastic experience. I felt supported and guided as a student, and had the pleasure of reading many books to expand my knowledge of digital storytelling. I really enjoyed the learning process of figuring how to create a digital story as it was quite technical. I also unexpectedly had the opportunity to create my own digital story. After our intense conversations and several viewings of digital stories, I decided to create a story with a focus on depression. I am proud of myself and my digital story. I certainly surprised myself by being able to complete such a story, let alone put myself out there for the public regarding my own personal story of depression. My experience this summer gave me a whole new perspective and respect for research on Indigenous women’s health. I would like to thank Hotıì ts’eeda and Shelley Wiart for giving me this opportunity."

Pyper Rehm, Knowledge Translation Summer Student (in partnership with FOXY)

"I am from Fort Smith (Métis) and studying communications at Red Deer College. I worked as the Knowledge Translation summer student this summer working both with Hotıì ts’eeda and with the FOXY (Fostering Open Expression Among Youth) participatory action research project. Working and learning about knowledge translation this summer was super interesting and complemented several of the courses I am taking in my program. It was a good challenge and I learned a lot. This summer, I was able to take an online course on how to use Adobe Illustrator to make posters or infographics, as well as learning about what knowledge translation is and how it fits into life. I was also able to continue my work for FOXY, which I have worked for in the past, so it was a really positive experience for me."

Josephine Martin, Training and Capacity Summer Student

"This summer was my first summer working with Hotıì Ts’eeda and the Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC). My first assignment was to attend the Ełèts’ehdèe Annual Gathering and take part in the youth day. I learned so much from listening to the elders and youth about what kind of research that is happening around the NWT and what kind of problems some communities still face today. The Ełèts’ehdèe was such an amazing experience, from hearing the beat of the drum it opened up my heart. Standing alongside my Indigenous family and friends with the privilege of meeting Donna Kimmaliardjuk, I felt very thankful for that opportunity to attend and hope I can attend it again in the future and see what comes out of the last Ełèts’ehdèe. For the rest of the summer, I researched and started devleoping several proposals for Gwich’in youth in the four Gwich’in settlement areas. I also worked on a resource map of youth programs around the NWT. Doing this, I actually helped my sisters apply for some of these programs and they got into 2 programs each! I hope to share this information with others so that other youth can take advantage of this. I also assisted with the GTC Taii Trigwatsii program with the students and preparing for daily class room duties. From working this summer with Hotıì Ts’eeda I had the chance to experience and learn what researchers and organizations really do behind closed doors to make all these educational programs happen. I did my first proposal and was overwhelmed at first, but once I was walked through it I realized it was just a lot of paper work that scared me, but it is doable. Once I completed it, I felt accomplished and proud of myself."

Joni Tsatchia, Field Research Summer Student

"This is my second year with Hotıì ts'eeda as a summer student. Last year I fulfilled the Youth Engagement Researcher position and this year the Field Researcher position. I was able to travel and observe land-based gatherings and observe the Hotıì ts'eeda Scientific Director Stephanie Irlbacher-Fox's cultural competency presentation for Government of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services workshop at Aurora Village. I traveled to the Dene National Assembly at Midway Lake and the Elders Gathering in Wekweeti at the cultural camp. On these trips I got to network with many people in leadership and other organizations. One of the main things I learned about was how to conduct thorough research and how to be respectful of traditional protocols and approaches when initiating contact for a successful connection. Land-based gatherings are vital in NWT communities because one can observe the traditional land skills of their community members. The Dene people are accustomed to land-based gatherings and Dene people need this sort of positive framework to decolonize. I met many knowledge keepers and I was glad to hear stories and learn new traditional skills. I learned that Elders are truly the link to the past and this knowledge needs to be preserved. The discussions with the youth were all positive and many said they hope to see similar gatherings in their communities."