Episode Title: Serene Porter — Culture, Design & Indigenous Youth at the North American Indigenous Games Show: The Road to Your Name Host: Lisa VanEvery 🎧 Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e961e8f1 Episode Summary: This episode was recorded in December 2023. In this episode, Lisa sits down with Serene Porter—Wolf Clan, Mohawk Nation, at Six Nations of the Grand River—who served as the Director of Culture & Engagement for the 2023 NAIG in Halifax. Serene discusses how she infused Indigenous culture into a major multi-nation event, how her background in graphic design and photography informed the experience, and how her consulting work now supports Indigenous youth, wellness and cultural competency. The conversation explores the power of language, art, safe spaces and community-led design in creating meaningful Indigenous-led experiences. In This Episode: • Serene’s role in planning the 2023 NAIG: from airport arrival to sport venues, cultural villages in Halifax and Dartmouth, to supporting 5,000+ Indigenous youth. • How Indigenous culture was integrated into every aspect of the Games: traditional sports like box lacrosse and canoe/kayak, language signage for Mi’kmaq, translation phonetics, Brave Spaces in athlete accommodations. • The concept of “Brave Spaces” rather than “safe spaces” — enabling youth to feel seen, share, and connect through art, smudging stations, weaving, journaling and quiet space. • Serene’s background in graphic design, photography, and the self-care workshops she facilitates (art materials, nature, mindfulness) and how this work overlaps with her consulting business. • The cultural awareness training Serene developed for over 3,000 NAIG volunteers: covering pre-contact history, Treaty education, allyship, privilege, bias, and actionable reconciliation. • Serene’s current work: consulting for youth-focused Indigenous programs, supporting organizations in Indigenous cultural competency, and her role with the Juno Awards in Halifax as cultural advisor. • Creative life: Serene still plays hockey and golf, is re-engaging in drawing, beading and watercolor art as part of her grounding and cultural expression. Key Quotes: “There are no words to explain what it’s like to have over 5,000 Indigenous youth who look like you… to be taken over a city where we’re not necessarily welcomed or seen.”“Instead of calling them safe spaces for everyone, we thought it needed a different term… you need somewhere to go to or somewhere to talk to—you need to be brave.”“We go through: what our communities were like before contact, how we were thriving… and then what happened through contact, residential schools… and then what we can do now to move differently in a positive way.”Connect with Serene Porter: Instagram/Facebook: [Insert Serene’s handles if available] Consulting & Workshops: [Website pending – “coming soon” as per interview] About the Show: The Road to Your Name shares conversations with Indigenous voices reclaiming identity, purpose and connection. Each episode celebrates the work, creativity and leadership of Indigenous people shaping culture, community and future-pathways. Follow the show for more stories like this one.
