By Jayson Black Kettle (Photos provided by Nicole Wolf Leg)
After 10 years of grief, sadness, addiction, and education, Siksika student Nicole Wolf Leg will walk across the stage with Mount Royal graduates to receive her Funeral Directing and Embalming diploma.
Embalming is a preserving process for those who have passed on, intended to help their loved ones say goodbye, keeping them natural and peaceful.
“It’s not just technical, it’s about respect, compassion, and giving families a chance to grieve and celebrate their loved one.” Said Wolf Leg. “It’s very personal. Every step is done with care, always keeping both the deceased and their loved ones in mind.”
Nicole Wolf Leg is a member of the Siksika Nation, born and raised in Calgary, and the Granddaughter of Olivia Good Rider.
“Unofficially, I’ve been called “Wednesday” or “Little Miss Morticia”. If anyone could translate that into Blackfoot, that would be amazing!”
She currently works full-time as a single mother, which means balancing school, work, and raising her son, Christian.
“Most days look like recovery, [being a] mom, school, work, football, eat, sleep, repeat! It’s a routine I’m proud of because it reflects stability, commitment, and growth,” said Wolf Leg.
Wolf Leg placed a high emphasis on recovery.
“It’s helped shape my focus, my work ethic, and the way I show up for my loved ones and community. Everything I do is grounded in creating a better future for my son and building a life rooted in responsibility, healing, and purpose,” she said.
Wolf Leg is completing her practicum at McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, working with Indigenous communities, including the Siksika Nation. Before that, she worked for a non-profit organization helping vulnerable urban Indigenous people.
“In many ways, the work is similar. Both are about helping people, being present in difficult moments, and offering support when it’s needed most,” said Wolf Leg
The journey forward has not always been easy for Wolf Leg, who began her studies in 2015.
“It has not been a straight path,” said Wolf Leg. “As I entered my second semester, my son’s father, the late Riel Solway, passed away. The loss shook me to my core.”
Reflecting on her journey, Wolf Leg returned to school and continued until she lost her second partner.
Amid trauma and struggling with addictions, she returned to school for a second time in 2022. She still struggled with grief, but it also marked a turning point in her recovery.
“Each time life tested me; it required me to pause, recover, and rebuild before I could move forward,” Wolf Leg reflected. “Through grief, healing and persevering, I found the strength to keep going.”
Wolf Leg reflects that her losses and grief built her strength and compassion, giving her skills that a classroom cannot teach.
“I was drawn to understanding how people experience grief and how we honour those who have passed,” said Wolf Leg. “These experiences allowed me to meet people in their darkest moments with understanding, empathy, and respect.”
Through it all, her son, Christian, has been her anchor, sharing in her grief but also lifting her back up.
“I truly don’t know where I would be without him,” she said. “I wanted him to see that no matter what life throws at you, you keep moving forward.”
Wolf Leg also thanks her mentor, Wray, and many close loved ones who have kept her afloat during her educational journey. She extends further thanks to the Siksika Post Secondary Student Support Program for their support.
“When it came to school, it was really a combination of my determination, my focus on recovery, and the love and support around me that carried me through,” said Wolf Leg.
As she approaches the end of her diploma, she plans to continue working at her job and practicum, being a supportive and trusted face to Indigenous communities and Siksika.
“Finishing my education isn’t just for me, it’s for Christian, my family, and our Nation,”
