Katelynn Gillen had no difficulty deciding what she wanted to do for her high school senior project: make regalia. That means cutting material, stitching and beading patterns for the rites-of-passage Head Start graduation.

“It was my idea because my mom works there, and I grew up learning to sew and bead and play the drum,” she said. “I think it’s important for local kids to stay in touch with the heritage like that.”

For Gillen, the meaning of the regalia — as well as anything else Native — goes deeper than the surface.

“If you look at something like a totem pole, it’s cool and everything, but there are stories involved with it,” she said. “Something simple like the blankets, those have had prayers and blessings spoken over them.”

She believes it’s not necessary for someone to be in possession of something to feel accomplished in a way that is important to their heritage.

“Being Native is more than just looking a certain way or having certain features,” she said. “One of the most important things about being Native is the fact that you can always draw from your ancestors and reflect on what has brought you this far in life.”

Those are the ideas she hopes to share with the children at Head Start, so they may keep the same mindset throughout their lives.

Gillen likes to consider herself to be an original individual and prides herself on that.

“It feels like kids from my generation are just focused on impressing other people and not focusing on developing their own likes and interests,” she said. “It’s important to live your own truth.”

One aspect of her truth that she enjoys is working a trade.

“I’ve already been welding for a while, but I’ve applied for the Trident Seafoods skilled trades trainee program,” she said. “That’s a four-year program where you get trained on multiple vocations and you stay on to work with Trident for a little while.”

Gillen said she plans to focus on receiving an education and training in heating and ventilation systems or as an electrician if she isn’t accepted into the Trident program.

“There will always be a need for tradespeople,” she said. “I would like to travel and work everywhere I can. But I would also like to help mentor and teach people whatever trade I’m in. It can be difficult for people to ask for help, so I think it’s important to be available like that.”

While she is eager to explore life beyond the island, she said she is very grateful for the life she has had here.

“I don’t take it for granted,” she said. “Living on this island is like a breath of fresh air. You can leave your doors unlocked and you can feel safe when your kids are outside playing. That isn’t normal in lots of other places.”

She said she loves the sense of closeness to her heritage, while also being grateful that she has been encouraged to embrace her autonomy.

“If I had to give advice to anyone, it would be to let things happen and don’t rely on the expectations of other people,” she said. “And some of the best things in life are unexpected.”