WIIKWEMKOONG—Caydence Webkamigad, a 21-year-old from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory and a third-year university student, is blazing a unique path as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves.
In December 2023, she was deployed to Latvia as part of Operation Reassurance with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment. Standing alongside NATO allies, her mission was to help deter Russian aggression—an experience she describes with a sense of awe and pride. “At 20, I hadn’t travelled much,” she shared. “Suddenly, I was part of something much bigger, working with people from around the world who had the same commitment to safety and protection. It was amazing.”
Growing up, Ms. Webkamigad didn’t envision herself in the military. She was raised with a deep respect for her First Nations roots and is aware of the challenges Indigenous youth face in pursuing their dreams. Yet, she feels that joining the military has given her the chance to become a role model, showing other Indigenous young people that anything is possible. “If you’d told me I’d be in university, travelling, and serving in the military, I wouldn’t have believed it. But now I feel like I’m paving the way for others, especially for Indigenous youth—showing them what’s possible, especially for young women. It’s a way of opening doors and breaking down barriers.”
As a corporal with the 2nd Irish Regiment in Sudbury, Ms. Webkamigad finds herself in a predominantly male environment, but she is proud of her role. She has a particular joy in guiding new recruits, especially Indigenous ones, and loves the sense of camaraderie that grows among her unit. Her deployment has had its challenges, especially the distance from family and friends, but she sees it as a profound growth experience. “It was hard, but it’s given me resilience,” she says. “And it’s shown me that as Indigenous people, we are capable of achieving dreams that may seem distant.”
Ms. Webkamigad is deeply inspired by her family legacy. Her great-great-grandfather was Wilfred Kimewon, a First Nations soldier who served in the Forestry Corps during WWII, someone who sacrificed not only for Canada but for the ideals of courage and resilience that continue to inspire her today. “I think about their bravery and the sacrifices they made, often at the cost of their own status. They left behind a legacy that I want to continue,” she reflected. Standing guard at the cenotaph on Remembrance Day, for her, is a deeply moving duty. It’s her way of honouring those who came before her, those who showed what it truly means to serve.
As Ms. Webkamigad moves forward in her journey, she hopes to inspire future generations. “I want other Indigenous young people to see that they can reach for their dreams, no matter how far they may seem,” she says. “It’s possible.”
