A Journey of Purpose
By Krisnan Weston, Program Manager
Qutekcak Native Tribe | Qutekcak Voices
Some people find a career. Others discover a purpose that becomes part of who they are.
For me, being a Program Manager at the Qutekcak Native Tribe is more than a career. It is a calling, a way of life, and an opportunity to give back to a community that has helped shape the person I am today.
Every day, I wake up knowing that I am not simply filling a position or completing a list of responsibilities. I am part of something much greater.
I am helping create opportunities, strengthen connections, preserve traditions, and build a future where our youth, Elders, and families can thrive.
This work has taught me that making a difference is not always about accomplishing something extraordinary.
Sometimes it is about showing up, listening, teaching, encouraging, and helping someone discover something extraordinary within themselves.
This isn't just where I work. It is where I have found purpose, connection, and a family I have chosen.
A Path Guided by Tradition
The Native games have taught me some of the most important lessons of my life.
They have been more than activities, competitions, or traditions. They have been my teachers, my mentors, and my compass.
Through these games, I have learned discipline, patience, perseverance, respect, and the importance of working together.
Whether it is the determination required for the Seal Hop, the strength and strategy of the Inuit Stick Pull, or the unity and trust found in a traditional Blanket Toss, each game carries lessons that extend far beyond the competition.
They teach us to challenge ourselves.
To keep going when something feels impossible.
To respect those who came before us.
To encourage one another.
And to understand that true strength is not always measured by how far we can go individually, but by how much we can accomplish together.
These games are more than a connection to our past. They are a living reminder of the resilience, strength, and spirit of Native peoples.
Coming from this team, this family we have created, I have learned that traditions are not simply things we remember.
They are things we practice, share, and carry forward.
And I am grateful that the Native games have helped guide my own journey while giving me the opportunity to help guide others.
Building Connections and Creating Opportunities
One of the greatest rewards of being a Program Manager is meeting people and discovering the unique stories, talents, and potential each person brings to our community.
Every person has something to offer.
Every person has a story worth hearing.
And every person deserves the opportunity to grow.
Whether I am organizing workshops, planning events, developing programs, or simply taking the time to sit down and listen, I know that the work we do has the potential to make a meaningful difference.
Sometimes an opportunity begins with something as simple as an invitation.
An invitation to participate.
To learn something new.
To meet someone.
To discover a talent.
Or to believe in yourself enough to try something you never thought possible.
The most meaningful part of my work is not simply creating programs. It is seeing what those programs make possible for people.
It is watching someone gain confidence.
Seeing a new friendship form.
Helping someone discover a connection to their culture.
Or knowing that a person walked away feeling included, supported, and valued.
Those moments remind me that our work is about much more than schedules, activities, and reports.
It is about people.
And the relationships we build today can strengthen our community for generations to come.
Honoring Tradition Through Action
Coaching traditional Native games is one of the greatest privileges of my journey.
Every time I teach a game, explain its rules, demonstrate a technique, or encourage someone to try again, I know I am doing more than teaching an activity.
I am helping keep a tradition alive.
Our cultural practices have meaning because generations before us carried them forward.
They preserved knowledge, shared skills, and passed along lessons that continue to shape our identity.
Today, we have the opportunity and responsibility to do the same.
There is something powerful about watching someone experience a traditional game for the first time.
The uncertainty before they begin.
The determination as they try.
The excitement when they improve.
And the pride when they realize they are participating in something that connects them to generations of Native strength and resilience.
Every time we teach a traditional game, we do more than pass along a skill. We help carry forward a story that deserves to continue.
And perhaps one of the most meaningful parts is knowing that the person learning today may become the person teaching tomorrow.
That is how traditions survive.
Not simply because we remember them, but because we continue living them.
The Wisdom of Our Elders
Some of the greatest lessons in life cannot be found in books or classrooms.
They come from the people who have lived through experiences we can only begin to understand.
Our Elders carry stories, skills, traditions, and wisdom that are invaluable to our community.
Every conversation is an opportunity to learn.
Every shared memory is an opportunity to understand.
And every lesson passed forward is another connection between generations.
Whether an Elder is teaching a traditional craft, sharing a story, explaining a cultural practice, or offering advice shaped by years of experience, there is something meaningful in simply taking the time to listen.
I feel fortunate to be in a position where I can learn from our Elders while helping create opportunities for their knowledge to be shared.
Our Elders are not simply part of our history. They are an essential part of our present and the foundation of what we carry into our future.
Their guidance has helped shape the person I am today.
And I hope that through the work I do, I can help ensure their knowledge continues to reach the generations who follow.
Because when an Elder shares their wisdom with a young person, something important happens.
The past and future meet.
And another piece of our story continues.
Our Youth: Where the Future Begins
Some of the moments that mean the most to me are the ones when I get to watch a young person discover something new.
It might be their first attempt at a traditional Native game.
Their first experience learning a cultural dance.
The moment they begin weaving or practicing a traditional skill.
Or simply the moment they find enough confidence to try something they were afraid to do.
Those moments may seem small to someone watching from the outside.
But to the person experiencing them, they can mean everything.
I have seen how encouragement can change someone's confidence.
How patience can help someone overcome frustration.
And how discovering a connection to culture can create a sense of pride and belonging.
Sometimes all it takes is one person believing in a young person long enough for them to begin believing in themselves.
That is something I carry with me.
Our youth are not just the future of our community.
They are an important part of our community today.
They deserve to feel supported, encouraged, and connected.
They deserve opportunities to learn from those who came before them while discovering their own strengths and talents.
And they deserve to know that their culture is something to celebrate.
When I see a young person master a skill, encourage another participant, or take pride in what they have learned, I am reminded why this work matters.
Because the confidence we help build today may become the leadership our community needs tomorrow.
More Than Coworkers: A Chosen Family
One of the most unexpected gifts of this journey has been the relationships I have built along the way.
When I think about the people I work beside, the individuals I have learned from, and the community members who have become part of my life, I realize that this has grown into something much more meaningful than a workplace.
It has become a chosen family.
A family built through shared experiences, mutual respect, trust, and a commitment to something greater than ourselves.
We celebrate accomplishments together.
We work through challenges together.
We learn from mistakes.
We encourage one another when things become difficult.
And we continue finding ways to move forward.
Not every day is easy.
There are deadlines, unexpected obstacles, difficult decisions, and moments when things do not go according to plan.
But even on the hardest days, I know there is purpose in the work.
Because we are not simply working to complete another project.
We are working to create something meaningful for the people we serve.
And when you are surrounded by people who share that commitment, the work becomes more than a responsibility.
It becomes something you believe in.
The Lessons That Stay With Me
If there is one thing this journey has taught me, it is that growth does not happen only when things are easy.
Sometimes it happens when we are challenged.
When we have to try again.
When we have to learn something new.
When we have to trust others.
Or when we discover that we are capable of more than we originally believed.
The Native games taught me those lessons long before I fully understood how important they would become.
They taught me to be patient with myself.
To respect the process of learning.
To recognize the strength in others.
And to understand that perseverance matters.
Now, as a Program Manager, I find myself carrying those same lessons into the work I do every day.
When a program faces challenges, I remember the importance of persistence.
When someone struggles to learn something new, I remember the value of encouragement.
When we work together toward a common goal, I remember that unity makes us stronger.
The lessons I learned through our traditions have become the values that guide how I serve our community.
And that is something I will always be grateful for.
A Legacy Beyond a Job Title
One day, the programs we create today will become memories.
The events we organize will become stories.
The children participating in activities now will grow into adults with experiences and lessons of their own.
And the people we encourage today may become the mentors, coaches, teachers, and leaders of tomorrow.
That is what makes this work so meaningful to me.
I do not want to measure my success only by the number of programs I manage or the events I help organize.
I want to measure it by the connections we create.
The confidence we help build.
The traditions we help preserve.
The opportunities we make possible.
And the people who discover something meaningful because we cared enough to give them the chance.
The greatest legacy we can leave is not simply what we accomplish ourselves, but what we inspire others to carry forward.
If one young person discovers pride in their culture because of a traditional game, that matters.
If one Elder feels valued because their knowledge has been shared, that matters.
If one community member finds friendship, confidence, or a sense of belonging through a program, that matters.
And if the work we do today inspires someone to give back tomorrow, then we have helped create something that will continue long after us.
More Than Just a Job: My Purpose, My Journey, My Heart
When I say being a Program Manager is more than just a job, I mean it from the bottom of my heart.
It is a journey of learning, connection, growth, and purpose.
It is an opportunity to honor the traditions that have guided me while helping others discover their own connection to culture and community.
It is a chance to learn from our Elders, encourage our youth, build meaningful relationships, and create opportunities that make a difference.
And it is a privilege to be part of a team and a community that have become such an important part of my life.
The Native games helped teach me who I could become.
The people around me have helped me continue growing.
And the work I do gives me an opportunity to pass those lessons forward.
I may hold the title of Program Manager, but the most important part of my work will never be the title.
It will be the people.
The traditions.
The connections.
The lessons.
And the moments when I get to witness someone discover their own strength, confidence, and sense of belonging.
Because this is more than just a job.
It is a calling.
It is a chosen family.
It is a way to honor where we came from while helping build what comes next.
And every day, I am grateful to be part of it.
With gratitude and purpose,
Krisnan Weston
Program Manager
Qutekcak Native Tribe
Preserving Traditions. Building Connections. Inspiring Future Generations.
