She started off in a beauty program and ended up finding a beautiful business education opportunity. Billie Jean Conley was born and raised in Inuvik, Northwest Territories but now lives in Edmonton, Alberta where she moved in 2021 with dreams of becoming a hairdresser. A year later, she became a certified hairdresser and she took additional training to become a lash and nail tech, becoming a beauty triple threat. Now, she’s back in school at Yellowhead Tribal College in her first year of the three-year Indigenous Bachelor of Administration and Governance while she starts her hairdressing apprenticeship.  

Originally, Conley planned to go into Native Studies at Northwest when a friend let her know about the program she had been accepted into. When she looked into it, she found it fascinating and decided to apply as well. Later, she found out she got into the same program as her friend and had to make a choice between the two programs. She ended up choosing Yellowhead, a choice she is very pleased with.

“It was very spontaneous, but I think I'm in the right program where I'm supposed to be,” she beams.

In her current program, Conley is learning about business, something which she feels will help her when she moves back home and starts offering hair and aesthetics services to clients in her community. She feels confident she will be equipped to run a business with her newfound entrepreneurial skills and knowledge.

Her advice for Indigenous students considering leaving their home communities to pursue their education is, “Just do it. Because I think like at least once in your lifetime… you should leave your home… moving, traveling. It opens a whole different perspective and different mindset. Home will always be there. You can always go back, no matter what. I love the city, and it's been nice, but I do see myself moving back one day.” She also points out all the opportunities available in the city.

When it comes to obstacles, Conley has struggled with the challenges of being both a mother and a student. She and her kids have had a hard time with being away from her parents, friends and family. Even in a big hub like Edmonton, she’s found it lonely and like there’s a lack of support when she’s used to having so many more people around. Having breaks to go home and visit are helpful, she’s realized.  

To balance her mental health, Conley spends time being active in the gym, something that helps her feel productive and better as a person. When she feels stressed or anxious, working out makes a big difference. At first, it was just about being active but she came to realize it was making improvements for her mentally and so she encourages other people to try it too every chance she gets.

As far as inspiration goes, Conley looks to the women around her and in her family, like her mom. Conley’s mother completed high school and college as a single mom and supported them working so hard. Her mom is now a grandmother of eight grandchildren under 13. She admires how hard her aunties worked for everything they wanted. “Since I was young, I've always been a hustler. I've always wanted to accomplish a lot, experience a lot, travel, everything,” she explains.  

Starting off in a beauty program and ending up in a beautiful business education opportunity, Billy Jean Conley is laying a foundation for a career she can build on. As a mother and a student studying far from home, she’s faced unique challenges, but she’s also found unique chances to learn and grow that will serve her well when she comes home. Loving her time in the city and appreciating what she has where she’s from, she’s leaning on her inspiring relatives and the inner strength she finds through fitness to push her through the program that will help her succeed.

Thank you to Alison Tedford Seaweed for writing this article!