Some time has passed since I've reintegrated back into life in Canada. I feel like I am at the point in my journey where I am able to fully talk about my experiences in Zambia.
It was incredibly difficult to try to comprehend everything I've been through in the past year. When I first came home, and all the questions, were questions, I could not answer.
Indeed, it was extremely emotional, I was tested beyond what I thought I was capable of, in terms of my fears of going into the unknown.
I have tried many times to sit down, and write my stories, but my stories were all over the place, and it was to emotional to write about a place I had grown to love and call home.
As an Indigenous person, I have this connection to my family, my peoples, and my land, that is indescribable. It was so hard for me to be away, from all of the familiar. It was difficult to communicate to home, because it was unbearable to hear how life was moving on without me in Canada.
I learned that I will always have two or maybe even three homes, and multiple families. I have brothers and sisters in Zambia and Fiji and all over Canada.
The biggest gift this internship could have given me, was to bring me closer to my faith and my culture. I put my trust in the Creator to guide me and show me what I needed to see, and to create friendships with other Indigenous cultures around the world.
I just wanted to update you on some of the things I have been up to since my last update, I have been fundraising to provide clean water for school children in Zambia and for the Women for Change Organization where I interned. If you are interested in donating, I have a bake sale scheduled for November for the Samson Community.
and, I have been asked to be a guest speaker, at the Second Annual First Nations Sustainability Conference along side Wab Kinew, host of the 8th Fire Series in February 2013 in Edmonton. If you are interested in attending or supporting, please email me at dennehya@mymail.macewan.ca
and, the Samson Education Trust Fund has asked me to speak at the annual awards nights to honor our community members in their educational journey next month.
The best part of it all, has been the large number of youth who have reached out to me, in terms of advice for exploring the world, and pursuing their education.
