My awesomely weird blog,

Uhhh Hey, everybody… its me, Bradley. OH!! Umm… My name is Bradley Blackduck from Gameti, NWT and… to be honest I have no idea what to write so I’ll just write what I feel about this program, how I’ve gained new experiences along the way and some what of my life and my placement was last year in Osgoode, ON during my NYA Canadian phase.

Osgoode was great, and I worked at a camp called Rideau Hill Camp for my job placement. I was able to work with children, kids and teenagers throughout my summer.

First of all, I wasn’t to sure about this new NYA Next program because there were participants from last year going and I haven’t really talked to anyone from last year, more like I didn’t really make any friends, but I did make a couple. Ever since orientation camp, I was able to become friends with some of those from last year which I’m a little glad for, because there are some really awesome people here. Ill stop talking about myself… I am however glad that I out of all the other people who applied, I got picked for whatever reason! I am grateful they picked me though, because of that I was able to break out of my shell and make new friends. I was able to gain new self confidence I never knew I had within myself. I’ve also learned that I love being lost in the city by myself, feeling the rush of the city! Because of that I started to call myself a city person but I don’t intend to forget about my culture because I feel like I can try to help my community from a distance.

NYA has given me the ability to see the opportunities ahead for myself, I can finally see that I want to do three main things in my life… first of all, becoming a voice for the different native kids who are afraid to speak out for themselves because they feel uncomfortable or just afraid of their opinions being heard. Secondly, I want to study the roots of my people to discover… who I am as a whole person, to rediscover my people’s culture, to become more involved with my culture, and to accept myself for who I am. Lastly, and which I am really shy about I want to become a theatre actor or just an actor in general, because I love being the centre of attention but I also hate being the centre of attention, its really a love and hate thing going on there! But I am determined to become the SECOND famous native actor or the FIRST Tlicho actor in the world!!

It was only with NYA I became aware of my options for what I want to do. I’m hoping to apply for some colleges in Vancouver, Yukon, and Ottawa for the things I want to do! But I guess I shouldn’t hope right? The only one who can apply is myself but.. I’m scared of what’s next.. I’m scared of the next big step in my life! No one is stopping me but myself right now. I know I can do this! I have my family who supports me, my wonderful friends who has my back with every choice I make, and the staff of NYA whenever I need someone to talk with. I will apply for colleges and I will get in.. and I will thrive on the success I make! Or I will crash and burn on the path I take.

And.. my conclusion! NYA is a great program because it gives northern kids from Nunavut or the NWT the chance to see that there are opportunities to learn more about themselves, their culture, or there is more to life than just living in a small community with their parents or grandparents. I’ve set out new goals and dreams for myself! I will find the voice within myself! I will learn to speak out for the things I think are wrong within the NWT! I will learn to become a voice for the native kids who are scared of coming out because they fear the hate they might take, the abuse from their community, and/or being kicked out for being their true selves. My dream is that my people stop drinking so much because they have a family at home but they don’t love because they were never loved as a child. I want to help my people, I want to help heal my people’s past.

Bradley Blackduck,

Signing off.