He left his home community in search of opportunity and that’s exactly what he found. Vincent McLeod is a member of Deh Gáh Got’îê First Nation in Fort Providence, Northwest Territories who has been working for the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly as a broadcast technician for the past four years.

McLeod worked hard at a range of jobs before he got to this one. He started out working at a diamond mine, giving him experience to be a hard worker. While he enjoyed the free gym and free food perks at the mine, he found it hard being away for weeks at a time and landed a job at CBC. He’s also worked in construction, forestry and in the local stores. He was able to get this job through the Indigenous Gateway program offered by the Government of Northwest Territories. He applied after working with CBC for three years and was accepted into the program that targets Indigenous applicants for entry level and training opportunities.

To prepare him for the role, McLeod participated in in-house training, beyond the experience he had with audio and video as a musician. He went from being a singer and guitarist and his work experience with CBC to being a broadcaster. While he was initially afraid to leave home, he took a leap of faith and followed his parents’ advice to explore and find opportunity outside of their home community. “I think that’s the best decision I made, to explore,” he reflects. He hopes one day to return to his home community and share his experiences, helping the younger generation.

After moving to Yellowknife for more access to training and opportunities, his advice to Indigenous students who have to leave their home communities is, “If you ever think of leaving the community, just make sure you have the support of your family. Reach out to friends who already moved, ask for advice. Do some research… Just never be scared to move on and grow and discover yourself.... Your community will always be there for when you return, maybe after you graduate college or university… Life's too short not to explore the world. Just move forward and never look back.” McLeod was shocked by how many opportunities were available to him once he left.

Helping him overcome his fears about leaving home was his travel experience from playing sports in high school. He later ended up volunteering for the Canada World Youth Program which afforded him the chance to travel to Central America for a few months. He also completed the Raven program. McLeod pursued those opportunities to get out of his comfort zone and see more of Canada and the world.

When it comes to obstacles he’s faced, McLeod was raised by residential school survivors and faced intergenerational trauma. He also struggled with a lack of opportunities in his home community. After graduating from high school, his grades weren’t high enough to get into college or trades. Moving to the mine, he was able to find opportunity. He also made a lot of music, shared his stories with others on the same path and participated in sports and exercise. Having a healthy lifestyle made a difference for him as did therapy. He was encouraged to find it was available free of charge and he resisted messaging he heard before that ‘being strong’ was better than being in therapy. “We’ve got to take care of our mental health, so I’m taking advantage of all the resources,” he explains. While he faced many obstacles, he learned to get past them and hopes others will find their own paths beyond their challenges.

If he could share a message with his younger self it would be, “go to university, don't be afraid to explore the world and share my musical talents, and just don't be afraid. Just go to school, go to college, and be amazed by what's out there.” Looking back, McLeod feels he should have gone to school and wishes he could tell his younger self to pursue an education.

As far as inspiration goes, McLeod looks to his kids who inspire him to become a better person. He tries to be the best version of himself and wants to be a role model to them and others. His parents also inspire him to be strong and keep going. His family, overall, brings him inspiration, thinking of his ancestors, his grandparents and great grandparents. “I’m sure they’ll be proud of us,” he muses aloud. Looking to the future, he’s going to keep working on his album under the name Vince Winter.

After leaving his home community in search of opportunity, Vincent McLeod found just that. Working his way into a role as a broadcast technician for the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, he gained experience in a range of roles and industries along the way. One day he will find his way back home to share his skills, but for now, he’s making music and a living doing something he enjoys.

Thanks to Alison Tedford Seaweed for authoring this article.