This year’s 2016/17 First Nations Role Model Pacen Setah is a proud member of Xeni Gwet’in First Nation.
Pacen is a Grade 10 student at Lake City Secondary School. His top academic subjects are social studies and Chilcotin language.
In her recommendation as Pacen for a role model candidate English teacher Julia Jack said Pacen is a fine young man who sets a good example for his peers. Academically she said he stays on top of his assignments and maintains good attendance.
“Pacen displays the attributes that will allow him to be successful in any future endeavours he wishes to tackle,” Jack said.
Pacen is a member of the Williams Lake Minor Hockey Association and also plays in First Nations hockey tournaments. During his last Bantam tournament he was named team captain.
Michelle Palmer, one of Pacen’s hockey coaches and current career program facilitator at LCSS said Pacen showed dedication to learning the game of hockey at an early age and has continued to play hockey over the course of the last 10 years in good standing.
Pacen is not only a role model at his school but in both his communities of Williams Lake and Nemiah Valley, his nominators say.
At Nemiah he has volunteered numerous hours at different events such as elder gatherings, youth groups and at the Henry’s Crossing Gathering.
Pacen said he is thankful for the time at Henry’s Crossing for two weeks every summer. He also attended the Gathering Our Voices conference in Prince George in 2015.
Pacen’s Chilcotin culture is very important to him and he thanks his grandparents for teaching him to hunt and fish in the Tsilhqot’in ways.
He respects his elders and enjoys listening to their stories.
In his spare time Pacen enjoys playing hockey and participating in the sport of rodeo. He rode his first steer in 2010.
Pacen has attended steer riding school and continues to perfect his rodeo skills. His current standing is in third place.
Pacen hopes to go far with his hockey and rodeo skills, and he is having fun at it!
Pacen also enjoys a healthy lifestyle, jogging and doing strengthening exercises to keep him strong in sports and on a positive path.
In his statement he said he believes that trust and honesty are two of the most important virtues.
Pacen says it is important to listen to others as this helps others to build trust in you.