A Secwépemc woman is one of more than 50 Canadians to be recognized for their "cool jobs" in Flare Magazine.
Nikki Fraser is for her politics and activism around Indigenous issues.
"It really is such an honour," Fraser writes in an email to KamloopsMatters. "My name is alongside six other Indigenous women, like Hon. member of Parliament (for Nunavut) , not to mention one of my favourite poets, ."
Fraser is currently in her second year of her bachelor of arts program at Thompson Rivers University; she's studying sociology and political science.
In 2016, at the age of 25, Fraser asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau what he was going to do about missing and murdered Indigenous women. Fraser spoke from experience. Her aunt went missing in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, and one of her first cousins, , disappeared in September 2013. Paul's remains were found in June 2014, in a remote area southeast of Kamloops.
"My advocacy work is in honour of these two beautiful women. They both had an impact in my life growing up," says Fraser. "I love them and miss them very much."
Fraser's résumé also includes serving as the youth rep for the BC Native Women's Association (she was elected to the position in 2015). In 2016, she was the nation youth representative for the Native Women's Association of Canada.
Furthermore, the mother-of-two was nominated for a role with the United Nations Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Last year, she was invited to speak at the Commonwealth Youth Forum.
Fraser notes her advocacy work is for her children.
"They have always been my reason why. I want my children, their peers and the next generations to live in a world where they are valued as Indigenous peoples," she says.
To learn more about Fraser, click .
