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Indigenous Governance

Graduate Spotlight: Avery Shtykalo

November 12, 2026

Avery Shtykalo Graduation Photo
Avery Shtykalo

Avery Shtykalo graduated in Fall 2026 with a Master of Arts in Indigenous Governance. Looking back on her time at IGOV, she reflects on the mentorship, learning experiences, and community connections that made her graduate journey so meaningful.

What moment or memory stands out most from your time at IGOV?

There are so many memories. I write in my thesis acknowledgement section that it was truly the most transformational time in my life so far, so it is hard to pick one out from the last two years.

Something that stands out is co-leading the Embodying Otherwise Directed Studies and Star Quilt Workshop with PhD student Cherylanne James and Dr. Heidi Kiiwetinepinesiik Stark.

This was really an opportunity for me to practice embodying teachings from IGOV courses. Intentional learning and unlearning requires practice.

IGOV and its professors, through their pedagogies, supervisory and mentorship styles, and curriculum, expect that you put the knowledge shared with you into practice. I think when we think about fostering more respectful and caring worlds for all beings, this is so crucial.

Which IGOV course or instructor had a positive impact on your academic or personal growth?

Learning from every professor, especially Dr. Gina Starblanket (my supervisor), Dr. Heidi Kiiwetinepinesiik Stark, and Dr. Hōkūlani Aikau, had a positive impact on both my academic and personal growth.

Gina taught and empowered me to sit within tensions, discomfort, and nuance, and the importance of what can be revealed when doing so. Gina also has this remarkable ability to synthesize and translate my thoughts and ideas into the exact words and meaning I am trying to get at. That always made me feel heard, understood, and supported.

Heidi brought joy to my learning throughout IGOV. Her brilliance mixed with humour truly helped me engage further with the material.

Hōkūlani instilled important relational teachings about being a guest, respectfully and ethically completing research, and how to navigate various relational contexts.

What each of them had in common was pushing me to embody the learnings beyond just the academic setting.

Another person who was an important part of my journey is Devi Mucina. The warmth and care he constantly shared with me, and the way he uplifted me and believed in me, provided me with the confidence to begin embodying what I had learned throughout the past few years in my daily life and beyond.

What activity or experience outside the classroom meant the most to you?

Land restoration was really important in building relationships on these Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ lands and was very meaningful for me.

Attending the Prairie Political Association and Indigenous Relationality Workshop in Calgary and Banff with Dr. Gina Starblanket and some other IGOV students really meant so much. The folks I connected with during that time supported my ability to further develop thesis ideas and motivate my writing.

The other experience that really stands out to me was the cedar replenishing trip to Parksville through SAGE. There was so much joy, care, and thoughtful intention and work done during that trip.

What are your plans for after graduation?

After graduation, I am working as a Project Coordinator for an Urban Indigenous Youth Wellness knowledge-sharing project with Dr. Gabrielle Legault at UBC Okanagan.

I plan on beginning applications for PhD programs next fall as I hope to continue working within research and academia.

IGOV prepared me very well for many different job avenues, but I was quite intentional about focusing more on the academic side.

The program was excellent in supporting that goal of mine by providing invaluable mentorship and opportunities.