Canoe Creek Indian Band

I’m a 26year old Northern Secwepemc from the Canoe Creek Indian Band. I’am currently undecided on which career path I’m going to take, there are so many to choose from. I have so many interests when it comes to a profession. I have tried many things from cooking to management and could not find what it is that I was looking for in a career. I have taken courses in business and tourism with the goal of one day being in business for myself. I also have an interest in political science and law. So, I looked into my interests and discovered that I love technology. I also discovered that I really like to write and have interests in photography, film making and all types of dramatic arts. I even have in interest in design from web site creation to believe it or not fashion! So many interests so little time. Although I have not gotten the chance to try out all of my interests, I know that I will get the opportunity to do so one day. Then came the opportunity to take the Youth Information Technology course (YIT) with the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC). The YIT program is teaching me how to use a computer more effectively. Through the YIT course I heard of another program through FNESC, the Youth Media Team. I read over the information about the media team, and I had to join. This Media team puts a lot of my interests if not all of them into one package. So, as soon as I finished reading about the program, I sent an e-mail to join. I was excited to hear that I made the team, and I can’t wait to see what opportunities it will bring us.

Lytton First Nation

I am a 20 year old Nlakapamux from the Lytton First Nations Band located in the Fraser Canyon. I am a very enthusiastic individual when it comes to photography as well as writing, especially when they include topics that are of very strong interest my people. In grade 4 I discovered a hidden talent in writing. I started writing short stories as part of class projects, my teacher realized right away that what I wrote brought great imagination to the classroom. Soon, my stories were published in the schools bi-weekly newsletter as well as in the Seventh Generation Day Timers produced by the First Nations Education Steering Committee. By the time I reached high school, I had achieved a university level vocabulary which I have used in to improve my essays and articles. A few of my essays profited in bursaries for my post secondary education! In 2003 I became involved in the local Youth Ambassador Program, during my years with the program, I have written speeches and presented them to not only my fellow candidates and youth royalty, but to my community. I have achieved great recognition for sharing my opinions in what I thought would help make our community a better place for my people. In 2007, I grasped the opportunity to run for one of three British Columbia Ambassador titles, I wrote two speeches, one on my community and the other on a topic of choice; "Stereotyping", for which I achieved the only standing ovation out of all the candidate speeches. Some of my volunteer work includes articles I wrote for the Lytton Museum and Archives in 2005 as part of a project that wanted the youth to have a chance at speaking about our community’s history. Each and every one of my articles made it past the museum curator and editors for the press. They all came back with great responses from the Museum Membership as well as the community membership. I am not afraid to express my mind or opinions on topics that I produce. Everything is from the heart, it is how I was taught growing up. Not only do I take pride in my writing, I take pride in other hidden talents such as digital photography! I will not say that I am a professional photographer, although, I must boast about this, I have gotten good reviews from friends who are involved in the media field, one of whom works with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network! I have been a volunteer photographer for staff dinners while working with Stein Valley Nlakapamux School in the Y-IT program hosted by First Nations SchooNet. I have also volunteered, locally and Province wide at pageants as a photographer sometimes taking thousands of photos in a weekend. I will take pictures of anything and everything, usually turning something ugly into "Eye Candy"!

Skidegate First Nation

I was born in Invermere, Redium. I am 18 years old and just graduated in June 2008. I love my family. I am working at the Band Office in my community, which is Skidegate located on the Queen Charlotte Islands.

Takla Lake First Nation

I am 19 years old and I have lived on the reservation for most of my life. I am very happy to say living outside of my reservation has opened my eyes to a lot of great opportunities. Like gymnastics when I was 6 and powwow dancing at the age of 6 and a half. My family of 3 brothers and my respectful Mom and Dad moved back to the reservation and lived very nice until I was 12. In grade 8 we moved to PG which helped me and also caused some hard times but through all the hard times I still made it the best I could. I am clean, sober and very artistic as I always was. I am a very good writer and I like to escape the boundaries of life when I write. I especially enjoy the feeling of belonging to what I write, and in some way I am healed when I write poetry. I am currently doing a lot of work with the IC3 (Internet and Computer Core Certification) course offered by the Youth Information Technology (Y-IT) program. I used to be in radio broadcasting as well as media arts and visual arts. I am also a rap artist and have previously done some acting. I am a very creative person and very outgoing. I am in a place in my life where I can be comfortable in my own skin and I feel I am the most hard at work when I have something to look forward to. I am a very outspoken individual and I strive to be the best at what I do.

Hupacasath First Nation

I am 20 years old and of the Hupacasath First Nation in Port Alberni. I have taken one year of college so far and plan on continuing my education so I can receive a Bachelors of Science majoring in Computer Science. I have a strong interest in technology, and am always trying to learn as much as possible about it. I am currently working toward a certificate in IC3 through the Youth Information Technology (Y-IT) program with FNESC. I also work with the First Nations Public Service Initiative (FNPSI) on building their website which was a great opportunity that came from my involvement with the Y-IT Program. I provide the FNPSI with my own photography and will also be working on content development, so I am very thankful to be part of the TEKKRU Media Team to see what new skills I will learn to add to my experience.

Nisga’a Nation

I am 25 year old and am from the Nisga’a Nation in Laxgaltsap BC. The Nass Valley is Located in the North Western part of BC.

Lil’wat Nation

I am 22 years old and I reside in the Lil'wat Nation. I am registered with Seton Lake Band where my Mom, Bernadine Sampson is from. I have lived all my life in Mount Currie where my Dad, Greg Bikadi, is from. I am a very open-minded girl who is very tech savvy. My iPod is almost always on me as I listen to a variety of music, it’s one of my favourite forms of expression. I also like to write poetry it's something that just comes out; words that seem to flow from within hit the paper and come together. Computers are my life, if I am not on my laptop I am on my blackberry, communication is one of my strong suits. I like meeting new people from all over the world and getting to know them. Being a part of the Y-IT program has opened up many awesome opportunities, most recently the Tekkru Media Team! I am excited to participate in the opportunities of the media team to see where it can take me. In the future I plan on gaining more experience in GIS. I spent my summer in our lands and resources department doing GIS, being the computer lover that I am, it has really peaked my interest as a potential career.