‘Lead with culture’: Indigenous youth share how they learn from doing so

Indigenous youth take centre stage at Healing Our Spirit Worldwide gathering as they share lessons of leading with culture to almost 4,000 Indigenous attendees.

What does it mean to lead with culture? It’s something both Ferrada Lightning, a 26-year-old from Maskwacis, Alta. and Megan Metz a 24-year-old from Kitimat, B.C. do every day.

“When we come back to culture, we come back to reconnecting with our ancestors wisdom, their strength and the connection of the community, because our ceremonies are beautiful practices and that that is who we are,” said Lightning.

“Culture is who I am, it’s my connection to my community, my elders — it’s changed my life.”

For years, Indigenous people were taught to hide who they were, to be ashamed of their culture and practice in private, but over the course of the past several decades that’s changed — and both Lightning and Metz are taking part of that change in their communities.

The pair spoke at the Healing Our Spirit Worldwide gathering this week which saw almost 4,000 Indigenous people from all over the world convene in Vancouver.

“It’s very powerful to see all of these connections be built and see these relationships formed between people who wouldn’t have necessarily had a whole lot of contact with each other yet share very similar histories, very similar core beliefs and values,” said Metz.

“Being able to come together, share our hearts, our stories, our visions for the future and what it could be is very empowering.”

While finishing up his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Mount Royal University, Lightning also works in Maskwacis as a climate justice coordinator and program manager — bringing his culture into what he does.