Claiming Space in This World
Our “Make Anything Possible” campaign raises funds to support the Kw’umut Lelum Indspire Awards. These Awards support Indigenous youth from our nine member nations on Vancouver Island to access life-changing post-secondary educational opportunities that may otherwise have been out of reach. Each week we will share a story from one of last year’s scholarship recipients showing the profound and direct impact the funding is having.
“The Kw’umut Lelum Indspire Award has allowed me to pour my heart and soul into my last year of internship and take massive stress off by easing the financial burden of unpaid internships. The gratitude that I have for this Award is not something I can sufficiently express through words, but I hope to convey it by giving back to my community in the near future.” - Hailey Josephson, Snuneymuxw First Nation
What are you studying and how did you decide which program to take?
I’m studying a Bachelor of Science with Dietetics Specialization at the University of Alberta. Once I developed a passion for food and nutrition and its implications on not only your body but the proceeding generations' bodies, I began searching for a career where I could put my love of helping others, science, and food into one, and found dietetics.
Share a bit about your educational journey to this point
Initially, I relocated to Edmonton, Alberta, to pursue a veterinary medicine career. As part of my prerequisites, I took an “Introduction to General Nutrition” course. I started implementing some of the knowledge I learned in that course into my daily life and instantly fell in love with the field of nutrition science.
What is your favourite part of post-secondary?
My favourite part has been the independent freedom I am granted to grow into the individual I want to become. Each year I find myself growing as an individual, both personally and professionally. I have learned a lot about myself. I have failed, and I have succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. All of the trials and tribulations have helped form me into the person I am today, and I am so thankful for the entire experience.
Have you faced any challenges while at post-secondary and if so how have you worked through them?
The most challenging part is being away from my family and friends back home. You feel like you miss so much. I find myself feeling incredibly lonely at times. It is in those times that I have to consciously remind myself what I came here for—a lifetime of happiness, goal-chasing, and success. I push through and remind myself of the life I want to be able to provide for myself and my family and remember that it is all so worth it in the end.
Who or what has been your biggest support at post-secondary?
My family is my biggest support, and I thank the Creator daily for blessing me with them. They have cheered me on every step of the way, reminding me what I came here for and how proud they are of me. I couldn’t even count the number of times that I have picked up the phone calling my mom crying, saying, “Mom I want to give up and come home,” only for her reply to be, “It’s going to be okay, get some rest, the sun will always rise tomorrow.”
Not only are my parents my biggest support, but they are also my biggest fans. Life didn’t deal them the fairest of cards, but the resiliency and unconditional love that they show me every single day remind me what true strength looks like. It is in my darkest times that they have been there to carry me through to the finish line.
What is one piece of advice you would offer to either your younger self or Indigenous youth from your community?
Believe in yourself. Attending post-secondary school in a health science field is further evidence to myself, my family, and everyone, that Indigenous people are incredibly resilient and intelligent. Anything we put our minds to, we are capable of. I do this for myself but also for my Elders who weren’t granted the opportunity to pursue higher education. I do this for my Gramma, the most intelligent woman whose presence I am so lucky to have been graced with, who looks down on me daily with pride and joy.
Slash the stereotypes and end the generational traumas. We deserve happiness, health, success, and financial stability. We deserve a spot in whatever career path we choose to follow. Go and claim your space in this world!
What is something you wish you knew before heading off to post-secondary education?
Your priorities will change. You will be uncomfortable and you will question if you are capable of doing any of this (you can).
What are your hopes, dreams, and goals for the future and what has the Kw’umut Lelum Indspire Award meant for your continued pursuit of these goals and dreams?
I am finishing my last internship rotation with plans to head back to Vancouver Island as soon as possible. I am passionate about advocating for Indigenous peoples' health and their access (or lack thereof) to quality food and resources. I am passionate about diabetes management and hope to provide my knowledge and experience with this condition to communities on the island for those in need. This award has allowed me to pour my heart and soul into my last year of internship and take massive stress off by easing the financial burden of unpaid internships. The gratitude that I have for the Kw’umut Lelum Indspire Award is not something I can sufficiently express through words, but I hope to convey it by giving back to my community in the near future. Thank you!