Walking in Two Worlds: The Power of Language, Culture & Cycle Breaking

"We are our ancestors’ wildest dreams, our job is to make them proud and make space for the next generation.” - Brooklyn

What happens when you reconnect to the language that raised your ancestors?

In this Unbreakable episode, Kait sits down with Brooklyn Neveu (Sturgeon Lake First Nation), educator, Indigenous Student Support Coordinator, and language champion, to unpack how language, culture, and community rebuild identity and mental health.

We talk about growing up urban and disconnected, the pull back to ceremony, and why access to Indigenous language isn’t “nice to have”.

It’s belonging, safety, and future-building. You’ll hear the real talk on lateral violence vs. lateral love, walking in two worlds (moccasin + high heel), and how humor keeps people alive in heavy spaces. We also dig into practical campus programming (powwow, round dance, feasts), the Blanket Exercise, and how to be an ally without being performative.

🪶 What You’ll Learn:

-Why Indigenous language revival is essential to reconciliation

-How reconnecting to ceremony heals generational trauma

-The emotional impact of the Blanket Exercise, and what true allyship looks like

-Finding balance “walking in two worlds” as a young Indigenous professional

-The role of humor, movement, and community in cultural wellness

-How language shapes belonging and self-worth

Follow Brooklyn’s weekly language shares with Mîyo Movement.

If you’ve got a story or question to share, drop a comment or reach out to join us on a future episode.

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Follow Brooklyn Nevue:

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In this Episode:

00:00 Opening & Intent — Why language is more than words

02:04 Who Is Brooklyn — Sturgeon Lake roots, student support work

05:14 Walking in Two Worlds — Moccasin + high heel, finding balance

07:31 From Shame to Pride — Growing up urban, rebuilding identity

10:06 Language = Belonging — Cree/Michif, accessibility, campus programming

12:40 Ceremony & Wellness — Powwow, smudge, movement as medicine

15:18 Humor as Survival — Why laughter is strategic, not trivial

18:45 “I Am My Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams” — Responsibility to past & future

21:20 Student Success in Practice — Feasts, round dance, elders on campus

24:12 Blanket Exercise — Impact, trauma-aware facilitation, real allyship

27:58 Lateral Violence → Lateral Love — Culture change on teams

31:05 Non-Indigenous Allies — From performative to practical support

34:22 Cycle Breaking at Home — Big sister energy, modeling resilience

37:10 Try This Today — One cultural action, one movement, one check-in

39:20 Final Word — Keep learning, keep laughing, keep speaking the language