When I was a young boy, I used to go to Powwows with my grandma. I was always amazed by the people, the food, the music, the dances, the clothes, and the art. My grandma and I would sell fresh bannock in a kiosk, and nothing made me more proud than being part of that community.

When I started going to school, I would always smile when I would check the box asking if I identified as Aboriginal. It was a part of me that I wanted everybody to know.

When I made it to high school, I started getting made fun of for it. People would poke and make fun of my heritage and I would brush it off, not knowing that they were slowly crushing that young boy's pride. I even felt shame at my own Aboriginal graduation.

After years of keeping this part of my life to myself, I finally decided to take back my pride. So I started Spread Out People.

Secwepemctsín is the language used in my nation. It roughly translates to "Spread Out People".

The logo I chose for Spread Out People is a salmon egg. It represents their life cycle: The return home and the rebirth.

Spread Out People is my return home and rebirth. It's my way of reclaiming my identity in my culture, and giving other Indigenous people the same opportunity. A door closing, and an opportunity opening.

That is what Spread Out People means to me.

Thank you - kukwstsétsemc

Landon