Xyólheméylh Youth Portal

Hunter Holden

Hunter, who is White Bear Cree, was 9 years old when she went into care and was in and out of care until she had her son at 16 years old. She then entered into an independent living agreement. Hunter describes her time in care as “chaotic,” a series of group homes and long stays at youth shelters. She found herself on youth probation with the youth justice system and struggled with substance abuse before having her son.

“It was very hard not being connected culturally, I missed out on so much community and struggled with cultural identity. I didn’t know where I belonged.” Says Hunter.

She started to reconnect with her culture at 19, and when she turned 22, she was connected to Visions and Voices, which gave her the opportunity to learn more about her culture and to help the younger kids. It was through visions and voices that she was hired by Xyólheméylh to become a Child and Youth Mentor on staff.

“I love it”, says Hunter. “It’s different being on the opposite side. I understand what it’s like to be a child in care. I’m not going to judge them, and I see a huge sense of relief when the youth I work with learn that about me.”

She is now 24 years old, in her third year of a Criminology major at university. Her goal is to continue working with kids, specifically indigenous kids within the youth justice system and aims to keep youth connected to their culture.

She now has three kids of her own and has also become a caregiver for her nephew. This year she is celebrating five years with her partner, and 10 years sober from her DOC. She is now very involved in learning and teaching her culture – dancing, drumming, sewing, learning the language and attending powwows. “It’s so fulfilling, I love it”, says Hunter.

Louis Calhoun

Louis has been involved in Visions and Voices since spring 2024. He is from the Haisla, Gitxsan, Duck bay nation, Eagle Clan, Frog Clan and Sami People. He was taken into care as a baby and was adopted together with some of his siblings , he has 10 siblings.

For Louis, life is all about learning about his Indigenous culture. He graduated last year as the Indigenous role model of the school district. He has been learning about canoe pulling, powwow , singing, traditional jewelry and learning from communities and Elders.

Louis says that Visions and Voices provides a good community, and he likes to volunteer for events when he can. Louis is constantly sharing the cultural knowledge he has learned with other youth. Over winter, Louis led a beading group teaching Indigenous youth at Xyolhemeylh how to bead medallions and earrings.

Louis is very involved in the community and is always willing to lend a helping hand. Louis is admired for staying true to himself and not being afraid to try or learn new things. He encourages others to connect to culture and is a great Visions and Voices leader!

Steven Dykstra

Steven became involved with Visions and Voices when he was 17 and describes it as a second family. “We’re looking out for other kids in care,” says Steven. He also says Visions and Voices has helped him go deeper into his Indigenous culture which he missed out on as a child and youth in care.

Steven is turning 21 years old this year. He has been in the foster system since he was two years old. He lived with his non-Indigenous family until he aged out, and while he hasn’t had contact with his bio parents, he is close with his grandfather and almost all his siblings. When he was between 17 and 19 years old he got a new social worker and realized he had to advocate for himself. His advice for Indigenous youth is to get their application for status in earlier rather than later. “Push for status earlier, before you age out,” says Steven. In his spare time, Steven likes to play Lego, computer games and take bike rides.

Raven Little, who is the Youth Program Coordinator for Visions and Voices says: “Steven has grown to become a strong male Indigenous leader in Visions and Voices and is a proud advocate for other youth in care. Steven channels his own experiences in care and actively advocates the need for children and youth to be connected with their family and culture. Not only does Steven sit on the Visions and Voices youth committee, he shares his voice at Xyolhemeylh’s Cultural Committee, training initiatives and other community feedback forums. Steven is always the first to volunteer to support growth or positive changes at our agency or in the community and is always wanting to advocate for children and youth.”