Cohort Six

Jennifer McKay
My name is Jennifer Mckay and I am a member of the Fisher River Cree Nation but live in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Since I was 15 years old I have been working with children in different summer camps, community centres, and I am now currently working at an emergency family care home. I enjoy working with kids and with-in my community but I wanted to explore more.
I applied for this internship because I’ve always been passionate about learning and expanding my knowledge in international studies. Coming in I thought I had an idea of what to expect but it has been beyond anything I could have imagined. Like anywhere I’ve hit some challenges but none the less this experience has been nothing short of amazing. I hope this inspires more indigenous youth to participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity. In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.

Skw'akw'as Lillian
Hello, my name is Skw’akw’as (Sunshine) Lillian. I am from both the Nlaka’pamux Nation in British Columbia, CA and Washington, USA.
One of my passions in life is travelling. I always knew I would make it to the African Continent, but I never thought it would be an opportunity like the one VIDEA has given me. I am placed at the YWCA in the youth department in Lusaka, Zambia. In the Youth department the volunteers and other YWCA interns, council youth in a variety of issues. I am learning from men and woman with law degrees, political science degrees, and social work degrees. I am learning alongside other university students who are in similar programs. I am also being taught three of the local languages (Nyanja, Bemba, and Tonga) so hopefully when I leave I will be trilingual.
About myself. I love MANY things, music, photography, filming, theatre, writing, travelling, philosophy, and the list can go on. I’ve documented some of my travels on my YouTube Chanel ‘Sunshine Lillian’ where I will also be posting vlogs of my life here in Lusaka. You can also see photos on my Instagram ‘SunshineLillian13’ (Shameless self promotion aha)

Taylor Cameron
Tansi, niya Taylor Cameron. I am Plains Cree originally from Little Pine First Nation, Saskatchewan but grew up in Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation, Saskatchewan for the majority of my life. I know multiple people that have previously came on this internship and they all inspired me to do the same thing. It’s always been my dream to travel the world and to do good in not only my life, but in other peoples lives. Working at the organization Archie Hinchcliffe Disability Intervention (AHDI) here in Lusaka I do get the amazing opportunity to do good in other peoples lives. At AHDI they help children with disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy with physiotherapy, help with school funding or even school supplies. They do so much and I feel so blessed to be given the chance to be involved with such an organization. Before coming onto this journey I had no clue what to expect but I am 100% grateful I was given this opportunity as I feel like it is a great chance to not only find yourself but to grow as an individual. I learnt so much being here and cannot wait to share my knowledge with my people back home. Hiy hiy (Thank you)

Lilianna Coyes-Loiselle
Hi there! My name is Lilianna Coyes-Loiselle and I am from Edmonton, where I am a proud member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. During the school year I live in Calgary where I am in my third year of my bachelor’s degree majoring in Development Studies with a concentration in International Indigenous studies at the University of Calgary. I found VIDEA and the IAYI program after looking for an international development internship to participate in for a work term during my degree. I feel so lucky and am so thankful to have the opportunity to be apart of this amazing program where I am an intern with EWAD (Environmental Women in Action for Development) in beautiful Entebbe, Uganda. Learning about development in school is one thing but gaining knowledge on it by witnessing and experiencing is a completely different ball game that has been incredibly rewarding and inspiring. I look forward to continuing to grow, learn, and create meaningful relationships and connections in the next two months of my internship and I cannot wait to bring back everything I have taken from this program and apply them in my studies, future career, and life in general in my home community.