Pikwakanagan – A teen from the Pikwakanagan First Nation who is a great advocate of her Indigenous heritage, has won a $50,000 cash prize for her community after being chosen one of five recipients of the 2023 Mazda Rising Legends Award that recognizes changemakers in their communities.

Nevaeh Sarazin, 15, a Grade 10 student at Opeongo High School, learned recently she was one of the successful applicants in a contest through Mazda Canada that has been recognizing local legends who have made significant impacts in their communities since 2021.

This year, Mazda decided to recognize exceptional youth as well and is contributing a total of $250,000 in prizes of $50,000 each for Nevaeh and four other recipients.

 “I was on Instagram and just scrolling through and I saw something from an Indigenous influencer, and I had no idea who it was,” she explained when asked how she learned of the contest.

She said the contest somewhat intrigued her because the prize associated with the contest was not for personal gain, but rather to be put to good uses in the community in causes the recipient chose.

“There was a chance to win this money if you could describe what you do for your community,” she said of the application process.

She asked her grandmother, Jamie Sarazin, whom she resides with, if she could send in an application and as they say, the rest is history.

“She said ‘yes’ but I still wasn’t sure if it was a scam or not,” she admitted. “I decided to do it anyway, and it turns out it was legitimate.

“I’ve always been a person who wants to help out in my community,” she added of  her desire to apply. “I remember as a younger girl, having such pride in the different activities.”

She saw some of the activities be discontinued due to a lack of funding, and she believes a lot of the trouble some kids get into today is because these activities no longer exist.

“The kids today get involved with drugs and everything and I saw the opportunity to get some activities going so the kids have something better to do than get into trouble,” she said.

The application process included four questions that basically asked what she had done for the community and how the money would be used if she won.

“So I just decided to fill it out,” she remarked.

 Nevaeh submitted the application the first week of November and she recalled how she was informed she was successful.

“I had no idea who it was because it was a Toronto number,” she explained. “I was in the middle of my science lab at school and they asked for Jamie and I thought it was a scam so I let my friend answer it.

“Then they said Mazda Rising Legends and I said I had to take it, so my teacher let me use the back room,” she added.

They told her she had won and wanted her to submit a little bio and send a photo they could use on their website.       

Nevaeh fondly recalls her mother, Gina Sarazin, drumming for her when she was very young, and that started the passion for her culture that led to her being named the Junior Female head dancer in the 2023 traditional pow wow hosted by the First Nation in August.

“I’ve been dancing at pow wows since I could walk and I fell in love with it,” she said. “I found out who I am and who I want to continue to be.”

She was extremely honoured to be chosen as the head dancer this past year, noting her grandmother, Jamie, has made her dresses and she does the beadwork on them.

Nevaeh said she has accompanied Native language teacher, Michelle Whiteduck at both schools in Eganville and throughour Renfrew County, to assist with the teachings, and visits the daycare at the First Nation to share her knowledge and passion.

She plans to distribute her winnings between the sport and recreation committee, the pow wow committee, the museum, the family well being centre, and for the development of sweat lodges, round dances and other activities to give community members an option of something positive to do. She also wants to contribute to an organization working on issues about missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

“It’s not for my own personal use; it’s to benefit my community,” she stated. “But as a community member, it still benefits me too.

“And it will definitely make me happy seeing a change,” she concluded.