TeamSkú7pecen Intern Program
Essential to the Knowledge Builders Program Model and our principle of capacity building, we have our Summer Internship Program which is open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous students at the post-secondary level. Those interns selected become active players for transformation in land and resource management in a manner that upholds Secwépemc Law, Jurisdiction and Governance. This unique and multi-faceted intern experience supports their professional growth in a manner which ensures they will become well rounded practitioners of the future who can walk in both worlds, Indigenous and Western, in their work, education and everyday lives.
Qwelmínte Secwépemc has successfully completed six years of its Internship Program where we have seen a wide of array of Nations, backgrounds and disciplines being showcased. Now in our seventh year of the internship program, we are honoured to welcome another eight interns to support the work being done by the Qwelmínte Secwépemc.
Meet the 2026 Interns Cohort
Avery Ferguson
Avery is proudly rooted in her Métis heritage, with kinship ties to the Lac Ste. Anne, Slave Lake, and St. Albert regions. While her ancestors are from Alberta and the Red River area, she was raised in British Columbia on the lands of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and currently resides on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. Growing up, Avery was taught the importance of stewardship and maintaining a strong connection to the natural world. Through spending time outdoors, she learned to ground herself in the land and developed a deep appreciation for its teachings and responsibilities.
Driven by a desire to continue learning and growing both personally and academically, Avery is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology at University of British Columbia. As an emerging member of the scientific community, she hopes to bring Indigenous perspectives and ways of knowing into academic and research spaces while helping broaden approaches to learning within colonial systems. With aspirations of pursuing postgraduate studies in the future, Avery hopes to support greater Indigenous representation and participation in empirical research while helping center Indigenous voices within health and medicine.
This summer, Avery will be returning as a second-year intern with a focus in stewardship. She looks forward to building on the knowledge and experiences gained during her first year while continuing to expand her understanding of collaborative practices, land stewardship, and Government-to-Government policy work.
Kika7 Manuel
Weykt xwexwéytep, Kika7 Manuel ren skwekwst. Te Xaxli’p ell Spax̌mn re st’7é7kwen. Te Tk’emlúps ren mumtwen. Hello everyone, my name is Kika7 Manuel. I come from Xaxli’p (Fountain) and Spax̌mn (Upper Nicola), and I currently live here in Kamloops.
I found a strong connection and passion for the land during my first year as a Guardian with the Knowledge Builders Program. Through spending time out on the land and learning from Knowledge Carriers, I was able to reconnect with myself and find a sense of inner peace through the land and the teachings shared with me.
My goal is to help revitalize and protect our lands, culture, and ways of knowing for future generations. To support that goal, I will be attending Thompson Rivers University this fall to begin the Bachelor of Natural Resource Science Program. After graduating high school early this year, I transitioned from being a third-year Guardian into a Junior Stewardship Intern role to continue building my knowledge, skills, and capacity.
As a Guardian, I learned important teachings about leadership, stewardship, and what it means to Walk on Two-Legs by bringing together Indigenous and Western knowledge systems in my everyday life. Listening to the Summer Speaker Series and spending time with Knowledge Carriers strengthened my passion for the land and helped build my confidence, motivation, and desire to continue learning and growing.
Because of these experiences, I chose to continue my journey with Qwelmínte Secwépemc to further develop my knowledge, gain hands-on experience, and continue walking forward in a good way.
Kelly Stanley
Kelly Stanley is a proud member of Frog Lake First Nations #121 and #122, located within Treaty 6 Territory in eastern Alberta. After spending much of her youth across Saskatchewan and Alberta, she eventually returned home to her community of Frog Lake, Alberta.
Kelly began her post-secondary journey in 2018 at Thompson Rivers University, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2023. The birth of her daughter, Gemma Stanley, became a foundational turning point in her life, grounding her sense of purpose and inspiring her passion for decolonizing research practices. This experience sparked a lifelong commitment to trauma-informed healing initiatives focused on breaking generational cycles and supporting community wellness.
Kelly is entering her first summer internship while completing the final stages of her Master of Arts in Human Rights and Social Justice at Thompson Rivers University, with graduation in June 2026.
Her previous experience working as a First Nations Representative within her home community inspired her to pursue a future career in law. This summer, Kelly will balance her internship alongside participation in the University of Calgary Indigenous LSAT Prep Program, with plans to apply to law school in Fall 2027. For Kelly, this internship represents an important opportunity to continue balancing motherhood, professional growth, and sharing her lived experiences while learning alongside her peers and community.
Migizi Cress
Migizi Cress is a proud Anishinaabe kwe and a member of Garden River First Nation, located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Although her ancestral roots are in Ontario, Migizi was raised near Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc in Pinantan Lake. From a young age, she found comfort and connection in the outdoors, spending much of her adolescence on the land within Secwepemcúl̓ecw - riding horses, hiking, camping, and building a strong appreciation for the natural world. Following high school, Migizi pursued her passion for travel and backpacked through countries across Central and South America, Europe, and Africa.
Migizi is currently in her third year of Indigenous Studies at University of Victoria, where she has strengthened her connection to her roots and deepened her understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing and learning. With a strong interest in governance, reconciliation, and policy development, she hopes to pursue a career in law grounded in both Indigenous and Western perspectives. She aspires to work collaboratively with Indigenous communities and the Government of Canada to help align shared responsibilities and commitments to the land.
As a first-year intern with Qwelmínte Secwépemc, Migizi looks forward to continuing her learning journey in Secwépemc Law and BC governance through the lens of Walking on Two-Legs. She is excited to contribute to the Knowledge Builders Program this summer in her role as Governance Intern while continuing to build her knowledge, relationships, and experience.
Xeni Lulua
Xeni Lulua is a proud member of the Tsilhqot’in (Chilcotin) nation from the community of Xeni Gwet’in First Nations located in the mountains 3hrs out of Williams Lake BC. She has been rooted in her Culture since she was very young. She was brought up by her parents traditionally learning out on the land and being taught lots of the traditional values and practices. Xeni is not yet fluent in her language but is well versed in writing it and can pick up on some conversations but is still learning on to carry a conversation. Xeni’s educational journey has brought her down many pathways and learning endeavours in the university life, but she has ultimately developed an interest in the Bachelor of Arts program majoring in psychology. She is currently unsure of where she wants her education journey to lead her to. As of right now her plans are to continue in the arts program until she can apply to the education program. Once she gets into the education program she plans on becoming a teacher.
Xeni has taken on this role as a first year Skú7pecen to learn more about the Secwépemc culture and be more involved in the Secwépemc communities. Xeni would like to learn more of the Secwépemc culture and traditions to be able to connect more with the elders and community here in Kamloops and the surrounding area. She is excited to see what the summer has to offer and for all the learning she will do.
When Xeni is not in school or at work she often enjoys beading, sewing, binge watching shows, along with various hobbies because she is always trying to stay busy. In the warmer months you will find her playing the game she loves with her partner along with their two given daughters and all their stick game family and friends. Xeni often travels to different locations for stick games.
Learn more about the latest Summer Internship Program Through our 2026 skú7pecen Journal
by clicking the link below!
