“I’m Kayden Alexan, and I’m currently doing an internship with Inspire. I’m from a small reservation called Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation. Christmas at Ahtahkakoop was a really powerful experience for me—honestly, more than I expected. For most of my life, I believed that no one could understand me the way Indigenous people did. That belief was deeply rooted in me. But something shifted while I was at Ahtahkakoop. I remember one specific moment—I was standing at the back of the hall, just watching everything.

There were people worshipping, connecting, laughing…..And in that moment, I asked God, “Where is Your heart in this?”

I felt His heart so clearly—it wasn’t divided, it wasn’t separated by culture or background. His heart was in all of it. It was for all people. And I realized… this is what God actually desires for us. To be one mind, one heart, one spirit. Not separated, not divided—but united in Him. I began to realize that my identity isn’t something that disqualifies me or separates me—it’s something God can use. And at the same time, I don’t have to carry this belief that I don’t belong. Because in God, we all belong.

That experience didn’t just stay in that moment—it actually shifted the way I carry myself now. I feel more open. More secure. More willing to connect with people who are different from me. And I’m really thankful. Thankful that God met me in such a personal way, and thankful for the space that Inspire created for that to happen. It showed me that unity is real, and it’s possible when God is at the center. And that’s something I’ll carry with me moving forward.”