MELISSA BRUNO is from Samson Cree Reserve within the Maskwacis Cree Nation. Her foundational years were spent in the Samson Cree Reserve before she relocated to Edmonton, Alberta. During her time in Edmonton, Melissa came across a Facebook post about INDIGital. Intrigued to reconnect with her Indigenous heritage, she inquired about the program and signed up. Through INDIGital, Melissa received Indigenous learnings and had the opportunity to engage with fellow Indigenous community members residing in Edmonton. The completion of INDIGital boosted Melissa’s confidence and fueled her determination to pursue further education through the IndigiTECH program, which she discovered via a Facebook post.

In Phase One of IndigiTECH, Melissa was introduced to coding, and learning programming basics including HTML, Javascript, CSS, and Ruby. During this phase, she got the chance to apply her coding skills to create various web development projects, such as Melissa’s Bake Shop and an Indigenous Clothing Shop. Melissa also enhanced her graphic design skills by gaining proficiency in understanding various aspects of colour, such as the colour wheel, hex colors, colour palettes, and their application in crafting diverse artistic creations. Melissa recalled one of her highlights of IndigiTECH being the invaluable support she received from the dedicated Indigenous Friends Association (IFA) staff and mentors. They consistently offered her motivation and inspiration during moments when she felt overwhelmed and had thoughts about quitting.

After completing Phase One, Melissa secured an internship at WomenatthecentrE, as a Communications Coordinator. In this role, she dedicated her efforts to crafting promotional materials and enhancing her organization's brand identity. Her responsibilities included designing artwork and composing captions for social media posts, engaging with other organizations to boost brand recognition, and providing vital information and counseling resources to trauma survivors. Melissa valued her time at WomenatthecentrE as it solidified her desire to pursue a career in communications.

Presently, Melissa is furthering her education through an online IT course with WithYouWithMe. She aspires to continue her educational journey during the winter by enrolling in a local university for a communication program. Her positive experience with IFA’s programs has profoundly impacted her three nieces, who are all currently enrolled in the latest iteration of IndigiTECH at IFA.