Tiarra Bigsnake-Keewatin’s dedication to her community and her culture has earned her a place in the 2015 Global Citizen Youth Leadership (GCYL) program and a trip to El Salvador. The Grade 11 student from the Peepeekisis Pesakastew School was nominated by her teachers for her exemplary attitude towards her studies and for being a model of hard work and determination.

Tiarra didn’t just get in based on the letter from her teachers though, the application process was quite involved. “There was wicked criteria for this,” said Tiarra. “I had to write out an essay and then we had an interview. I found out three days later and I was crying. I was bawling my eyes out.”

The Leadership program is an opportunity for nine Saskatchewan youth to visit and connect with Saskatchewan non-governmental organizations working in El Salvador. In El Salvador, youth participants will meet with staff and volunteers from local organizations, as well as community members who have been impacted by international development efforts. The youth will learn more about the work being done in partnership with Saskatchewan non-governmental organizations and their international colleagues, and how they can continue to be involved in international development, locally and globally. Youth participants will be accompanied to El Salvador by experienced staff from The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, The Committee Against AIDS (CoCoSI), and the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation (SCIC).

Tiarra’s teachers were effusive in their recommendation. Her work ethic was praised as well as her involvement in extracurricular activities at the school. But her tie to her culture really sticks out. “Tiarra has always been immersed in her culture and proud to showcase her talents performing in many pow wow celebrations across the province. Tiarra has spent many hours in creating her dance regalia from the sewing of the dress, stitching of her moccasins and of course doing her own intricate beadwork for her outfit...... Always proud to represent her cree/blackfoot heritage, Tiarra has taken great interest in acquiring the Cree language and learning the history of her Blackfoot ancestory as well as her Korean lineage from a great-grandmother on her father’s side of the family. Tiarra has always been proud to share her beautiful mosaic of culture with many of her peers and younger students in and around the community.”

Tiarra credits her success to her mother Jacqui Keewatin and her grandparents Ruth and Gilbert Keewatin. “My mom got me into the powwow circle and taught me how to live and be nice to people and have the right attitude,” said Tiarra. “My grandparents would always take me to powwows.”

She is excited for the trip but is going in there with full knowledge that it will be difficult. “I want to come back and change the way I look at what we have here. El Salvador is the second poorest country in the world. I believe it will make me grateful for what we have here.”

She also expects the trip to change her life. “I want to see the effects in this country but I also want to help them in any way I can. I want to teach them about my culture but also learn lots about their ceremony and protocol,” added Tiarra. “I don’t know what I will get out of this trip, but I do know that it will be good.”

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