“I've never really said no to opportunities, and try to make as many opportunities possible for other people in the process,” shares Sadie-Phoenix Lavoie. They are from the Sagkeeng First Nation and are a member of Turtle Clan. They live in Winnipeg, Manitoba and work as community coordinator at Wa Ni Ska Tan Alliance of Hydro-Impacted Communities. They are also one of the cofounders for Red Rising magazine. They have been doing graphic design work and have a background in photography.

Previously, Lavoie has also been Vice president of External affairs at the University of WInnipeg Students Association and a national executive representative of the Circle of FIrst Nations, Metis and Inuti Students. Additionally, they were a former Youth Clean Action Mentor for Youth Agencies Alliance.

As part of their advocacy, Lavoie was involved with the Indigenous credit requirement at University of Winnipeg and were part of the Aboriginal Student Council. They were also part of initiatives aimed at indigenizing the university, the fossil fuel divestment campaign and they experienced frustration around walking away from the university with the work still yet to be done. After leaving those leadership roles, they continue to provide mentorship and support to the incoming leadership, though they were tired of the struggle between Western and Indigenous ideology.

From an educational perspective, Lavoie graduated with a dual diploma in high school, having attended a school which had an impressive photography program. Later, they completed a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies and Political Science and were admitted through early admissions as a straight A student in grade eleven. They enjoyed the interdisciplinary nature of Indigenous studies and as far as political science went, they said, “I really took political science because I wanted to understand the system that controlled everybody and everything, including me.”

“One thing I learned is always ensuring that you're learning from somebody and you're also teaching somebody at the same time.”

When it comes to their work in politics, motivating Lavoie was their belief that, “community work, community advocacy, educating, keeping on top of what's going on, and encouraging and helping people, uplifting voices, sharing stories, all of that, I think, heals the community as much as it heals me.” They don’t even call it a career so much as they feel they travel around and talk and share.

Growing up Catholic without a lot of their traditional cultural upbringing, it wasn’t until university when Lavoie was learning in their coursework that things really fell into place for them in terms of understanding what was happening from an Indigenous perspective. They started building relationships and a sense of identity while participating in activism, organizing, and fundraising. They came to understand their identity as Two-Spirited. While they used to savour the satisfaction of good grades, they came to look forward more to connecting with more people the more vocal they became in community.

Red Rising magazine came from frustration over how mainstream media was covering Indigenous rights and instead featured the perspectives of Lavoie and their friends, uncensored and unfiltered during Idle No More. Community-run, owned and funded, while they co-founded it, they really see it as more their responsibility to keep it going for the community and to distribute it as widely as possible. They did the graphic work for the publication and now they feel humbled by the legacy it represents.

When it comes to Indigenous students leaving their home communities to pursue their education, Lavoie’s advice would be to find their people and a support system. They also recommend finding the time to connect with the land and participate in ceremony.

“I'm always like, ‘Yes, we need to build community. We need to hold each other closely and get some cool things done.’”

As far as obstacles go, Lavoie has struggled to deal with bureaucracy but learned early how to code switch and to function in those spaces. They have also been frustrated by the unwillingness of others to see the value of spaces and events just for Indigenous and racialized students. Additionally, they had challenges with institutional barriers put up to prevent progress on initiatives like the fossil fuel divestment campaign and decolonization. Intimidation tactics and tokenization were also obstacles they had to contend with. Being able to lean on others in the fight with them made a difference given they were often bound by confidentiality not to speak out.

“What we do is just carry on that torch and try to do what changes we can in the time that we're there and and then pass it on.”

To keep their mental health in check over the pandemic, Lavoie has taken social media breaks. They did a lot of internal work to educate themselves. They’ve spent time pursuing hobbies like skateboarding and beading. They had a quarantine buddy who helped them with accountability and who would go out with them for a change of scenery. They stayed connected with people online but also took alone time as needed.

When it comes to inspiration, Lavoie is inspired by artists they see on Instagram. They also are inspired by successful and happy people. They are reminded to cheer other people up every day and that their mood affects others, too.

In closing, Lavoie offers the advice, “Keep rising! There can be hard times, burning, falling, things can feel like rock bottom, but things can be really colourful and as rise up, just embracing change. Change is good. Change is beautiful and healthy and exciting.”

Never saying no to opportunities and trying to create more opportunities for others in the process, Sadie-Phoenix Lavoie is a community-builder, an educator and a change-maker. From student government to Red Rising to community mobilization after graduation, they have kept moving and doing what they can for the environment, for the next generation and for Indigenous rights. A second-generation university graduate, they are continuing a legacy of educational excellence and following their dreams.

Thanks to Alison Tedford Seaweed for authoring this article.