living
#YQLNEIGHBOURS
M E R C E D E S FAW N S
P H OT O G R A P H Y: D E J O U R DA N ’ S B Y L I F E T O U C H
Meet 18-year-old, TIANA WEASEL MOCCASIN,
recently returned from Ottawa where she joined
more than 300 other women for the Equal Voice,
Daughters of the Vote, initiative. Here, she tells
us more about her plans for the future, and
what inspired her to become involved
in politics at such a young age.
Where are you from?
Right now I live in Lethbridge, but
I grew up on the Kainai and Piikani
reservations. I loved the experiences of
[growing up there]. It shaped who I am
today.
Tell us about your experience with
Daughters of the Vote.
It’s an organization that promotes equal
voice and female empowerment in
order to encourage women to get into
politics. Women from across Canada
were chosen to participate. It was pretty
amazing actually; we filled the House
of Commons. I was able to speak up
about issues in my community: the
education system, the fentanyl crisis
and missing and murdered aboriginal
women. I learned to not be afraid to
speak up or speak out about issues I
think are important.
What inspires you?
My mom inspires me to never give
up and keep working hard, no matter
how hard it gets. Children inspire
me because of their innocence, and
everything amazes them. They view the
world with love and that inspires me
to be a better person. My little cousins
look up to me, and I feel like if I start
with one change, it can help their future
to become brighter.
12 LETHBRIDGELIVING.COM
What are some of your hobbies?
I love to powwow dance during
the summer, ever since I was a
little girl. I grew up around the
powwow and Sundance circles
with my family. I hope I never
give that up.
What are some of your plans
for the future?
Right now I am just finishing up
my Early Childhood Education
diploma at Lethbridge College.
I plan on going to university
and then to law school, and
continuing to advocate for the
indigenous population and for
people in need – just trying to be
a good role model for the youth.
Living each day in the moment and
to the fullest – I think that’s really
important because sometimes we
forget about those kinds of things.
If you could give advice to
your 16 year-old self, what
would it be?
Keep going. Things are going to
get better. iikaakiimaat (“Try hard”
in Blackfoot). I wouldn’t want to
change anything that happened,
because the experiences I had
back then helped shape the
person I am today.
JUL-AUG 2017