Avery Velez

East Coast

Avery Velez (they/them/nekm) is a queer, trans, chronically ill mixed Mi'kmaw/Portuguese youth from Elmastukwek Ktaqamkuk (the Bay of Islands in Newfoundland).  Avery grew up in a family that kept their Mi'kmaw roots a secret and they have spent most of  the past twelve years building the foundations for a lifelong journey of (re)connecting to language, culture, and community. Those years started with internal work unpacking shame and re-learning personal and family histories, but quickly became much more. 

Once Avery moved to Ottawa for university, the work expanded to include connecting with local Indigenous communities and Indigenous youth and Elders from across so-called canada,  including Mi’kma’ki. They learned about drumming and dancing and smudging, but they also  learned about kinship, community, and solidarity. Avery spent six years in Ottawa and as the  time went on, they moved from studying in a university and working on Indigenous & gender  policy for the colonial government to working with a grassroots Indigenous organization and  joining up with land protectors, climate activists, and allies to march the streets and (re)occupy the lands government buildings are squatting on. 

Today, Avery lives in Nujio’qonik Ktaqamkuk (Bay St. George, Newfoundland) and they have  been working on reconnecting directly with their family and community at home, absorbing  teachings, practicing the language (even if they only know a dozen words yet), picking  blueberries with their nan, and learning to make bear stew.  

These years have been a wild ride of discovery, anxiety, anger, grief, hope, love, and a profound sense of home. Grounded at home with their feet in the dirt, Avery is excited to broaden their work again to connect with Indigenous youth across so-called canada and work together to  understand and help protect the lands and waters we live with.