Indspire Youth Laureate excelled at studies, volunteerism
- EFN Staff | July 03, 2017
Josh Butcher considers himself among greatness as an Indspire Youth Laureate. He was able to speak about his journey and dreams as a panel member in a seven-city tour to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary.
The Indspire Awards are hosted annually in cities across the country to honour extraordinary First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals, including three youth recipients. The Laureates for this tour were chosen from a list of remarkable young people who have received Indspire Awards in the youth categories.
A Cree Métis born and raised in Edmonton, Butcher began his education at the University of Alberta. The love of football led him to take a chance and try out for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies team.
“I had zero expectations that I would receive an offer, but to my surprise I was offered an opportunity and jumped at the chance.”
Enrolled initially in the college of Kinesiology, he maintained a 4.0 GPA while volunteering with organizations like SWITCH (Student Wellness Initiative Towards Community Health), a medical clinic that serves mostly Indigenous people; ABLED (Advocates for Bringing Light to and Education on Disabilities); and created ‘Athlete Allies’, a group within Huskie Athletics with the goal of promoting respect and inclusivity for LGBTQ athletes. He is now enrolled in the U of S College of Medicine.
“As Indigenous youth, we partake in a great journey to learn about our culture when there is often no teacher to be found. It’s a journey to prosper when we don’t know the path we must take. It will be hard work, a refusal to quit, and a relentless dedication to accept nothing but the highest standard that will show the world our true potential as Indigenous youth.”
He believes that this opportunity has changed his life in significant ways.
“It’s changed my sense of identity, of being Métis. Because of this I have been moved to do my homework and know more about my culture. I have been able to reclaim some of this history.”
Along the way Butcher has had the opportunity to address some of the personal challenges that come with the process of discovering his roots.
“I have had this incredible feeling of guilt, of not being “indigenous enough” but I have found that I am not alone in that journey and there are others who understand and feel the same.” He continues to learn as much as he can about his family’s background and community.
Butcher eagerly anticipates becoming a physician. He hopes to advocate for Indigenous people and push for the rights to equal access to health care resources.
“I would encourage youth to dream big. They need to know that they are more than capable of creating big changes in our society. I believe they will breathe life into the future of our Indigenous culture and traditions.”
The tour began in Ottawa in March, and has visited Winnipeg, Saskatoon. It is scheduled to stop in Yellowknife, Calgary, Vancouver and will wrap up in Montreal in November of this year. For more information about Indspire Youth Laureates, visit its website.