Braden Kadlun

Whether he’s in front of the camera, amongst community, or speaking to an audience, Braden Kadlun strives to bring the power of storytelling to life – and to celebrate Inuit culture. Growing up between Nunavut, Nova Scotia, and the Northwest Territories, Braden always remained immersed in his culture even as he encountered mental health and substance use challenges. He landed a small role in the acclaimed film The Grizzlies at the age of 17; it shared a story from his home community. Braden’s journey of advocacy for Inuit ways of life began in 2017. After sharing a ‘sealfie’ of himself wearing a sealskin parka created for him by his mother as a graduation present, the photo went viral and prompted a wide-ranging conversation about traditional Inuit practices and ways of living. It wasn’t until 2022 that Braden took an active role in this conversation on social media. He has since immersed himself in content creation by sharing language, traditional food, and his sobriety journey.

A sought-after keynote speaker at various venues across Canada, Braden never misses an opportunity to share insights about the realities of Northern living, sobriety, healing, and Inuit culture. He has participated on multiple panels and completed the TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators program in December 2022. This mentorship program, in partnership with the National Screen Institute, fostered his media skills and also led to collaborations with institutions such as CBC, APTN, and the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG).

Braden’s recent endeavours include facilitating workshops in community alongside his mother, Hovak Johnston, which highlight their respective healing journeys. He also co-produced and hosted Local Lives, a 2023 television series through StoryHive which provided an Indigenous lens on the experiences of Indigenous small business owners, Knowledge Keepers, artists, and activists in Treaty 6 and 7 Territories.

Always learning, Braden is dedicated to creating positive change wherever he goes.