Brayden Omeasoo-Steinhauer works for the Maskwacis Education Schools Commission (MESC) as the High School Grad Coach. Brayden, who attended MANS from Grade 5-8 and graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Education degree, was hired to build and implement a program that helps Grade 9 and 10 students in the reserve education system transition to high school. Through activities in five different areas, Brayden helps teens think about their futures, gain leadership skills, and connect with their culture.
Brayden chose the newly-created position over more traditional teaching job offers, including Cree Language teacher offer, because it aligned with his long-term goals. “I like to say my career is Leadership and Mentoring,” smiles Brayden. “That was accelerated at MANS by Total Praise and the travel I was able to do while at MANS. I got so many skills from those opportunities!”
When Brayden came to MANS, his family was reeling from the death of his sister and her friends in a fire that occurred during a sleep-over. His arrival coincided with the beginning of “Total Praise,” a sign language group started by teacher Cheri Notice. She noticed how quickly Brayden picked up sign language, and that he had a gift for interpreting and signing the gospel songs that the group performed.
By Brayden’s third year with the group, he’d earned the respect of his peers and they looked to him as a leader. Cheri made him assistant director, and he began to conduct Total Praise practices. He traveled with a MANS group to Spokane, where he performed solo at the MANS booth at an ASI convention, and at various presentations around Alberta to raise funds for MANS’ high school, which was still in the planning stages.
“Those experiences at MANS formed the basis for so much of what I do now,” says Brayden. And as so many MANS alumni do, Brayden wants to “give back” to his community what he learned at MANS. For Brayden, that means effectively investing in young people.
“Being a student and given opportunity as assistant director of Total Praise, and being mentored by Cheri Notice was so valuable,” Brayden says emphatically. “I got out of the fear of being in front of people and performing. I gained strength, confidence, and resiliency from those experiences.”
A Triumphant Day for Brayden Omeasoo-Steinhauer, Bachelor of Education: Brayden credits MANS with helping to lay the foundation for his success in his chosen career—Leadership and Mentoring. “Those experiences at MANS formed the basis for so much of what I do now,” says Brayden, who’s pictured with his mother at the University of Alberta Fall 2024 Convocation.