Age: 34
Occupation: Founder and CEO, Soul of Miistaki; paramedic, Siksika Nation; tourism co-ordinator, Destination Blackfoot
Even though Cassie Ayoungman is a mountain climber, for her the greatest measure of success isn’t summiting a mountain herself: it’s helping others reach their own potential. Ayoungman’s journey into advocacy began in her mid-20s when she noticed a lack of diversity in outdoor spaces, sparking a passion for, and commitment to, breaking down barriers for Indigenous people.
Through her non-profit, Soul of Miistaki, Ayoungman connects people from the traditional lands of Treaty 7 Indigenous Peoples through inclusive outdoor experiences, cultural consultations and more, supporting personal growth, empowerment and community building. By blending outdoor adventure with cultural knowledge, Ayoungman strengthens her community’s connections to nature through the approximately 12 annual programs serving more than 100 participants each year.
That same commitment has defined her career as a paramedic with Siksika Nation, where she has spent the past nine years providing emergency care with collaborative leadership as her foundation. “Leadership is about the responsibility you have to the people who trust you to lead them. It means listening, staying open and being supportive,” she says.
Beyond her physical presence and guidance in the community, Ayoungman’s influence reaches audiences far and wide through her film, Iikaiksimatsa’pao’p (Grateful To Be On The Land), which documents her work with Soul of Miistaki. The film has screened at local festivals like the Oki Corral Film Festival and the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, as well as at Toronto’s imagineNative Film and Media Arts Festival and internationally at film festivals in the U.S. and New Zealand.
Even with this impressive resumé, she continues to reach higher and bring others along: last year, Ayoungman joined the team at Destination Blackfoot, a Blackfoot-led tourism initiative that connects visitors with authentic experiences, businesses and opportunities to learn about the Blackfoot way of life. As tourism co-ordinator, she handles community outreach, and supports and promotes Blackfoot business operators and their initiatives.
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