‘It’s where we feel at home’: Cree student on why Indigenous spaces matter in city schools
Apr 28, 2026
A young athlete balances academics, identity and life away from his community
For a young Cree student-athlete leaving his community for the city, the hardest part isn’t just the faster school deadlines or tougher practices—it’s learning how to find your place in a world that feels completely different.
Seeking higher education and competitive sports, Caleb Gunner moved from Mistissini, a Cree community in northern Quebec, to D’Arcy McGee High School in Gatineau. After years as often the only Cree student in his classes, he recently stood before his peers and teachers to deliver a speech about that journey.
“We come here, [for some] it’s our first time in the cities. We’re still new to everything [when] it’s regular for everyone else,” said Gunner, 16.
