Christa-Shay Beaulieu

Christa-Shay Beaulieu is an 18-year-old Indigenous student from Thompson, Manitoba, currently in her first year of undergraduate studies at University College of the North. She moved off her home reservation in 2022 to pursue her education and personal growth. Since childhood, Christa-Shay has lived with mental health challenges, and these experiences have shaped her perspective, resilience, and creative voice. Writing Rising Smoke, Soaring Eagles allowed Christa-Shay to express her journey of identity, healing, and cultural reconnection. Through storytelling, she found a way to explore the emotions and questions she has carried with her—especially around her heritage and the path to reclaiming and understanding it. The story reflects her ongoing efforts in 2025 to believe in herself and her culture, even when the way forward feels unclear. Christa-Shay is passionate about mental wellness and hopes to one day support others facing similar challenges. Whether through psychology, criminology, or community advocacy, she wants to be someone who helps others feel seen, supported, and understood.