Sharing Humor, Culture and Connection: Band member Dylan Oswaldson uses popular social media platform to reach and encourage youth across Indian Country

By Vivian LaMoore, Inaajimowin Editor

Humor, culture, and everyday Rez life are reaching thousands of viewers online thanks to a young Mille Lacs Band member whose voice is resonating far beyond the reservation. Dylan Oswaldson has built a following of more than 200,000 people on Tiklok, where his videos blend humor, cultural teachings, and encouragement for young people across Indian Country. What began as a few short videos during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into a platform where he shares relatable moments and messages of connection. His platform is called #Rezzalations.

Oswaldson, whose Ojibwe name is Giidigagiignaneb, meaning Spotted Feather, began posting videos during the pandemic when many people were spending more time at home and looking for ways to stay connected. His posts often drew on humor and familiar Rez-life experiences, and it didn't take long before the videos began attracting attention.

"I don't even remember what my first post was," he said "But all a sudden it got about 1,000 followers and people kept reposting it. So, I just kept on doing it."

One of his early videos shared a quote from the late Native activist, poet, and musician John Trudell: "Protect your spir-it, because you are in the place where spirits get eaten." The message resonated widely and the video quickly reached more than a million views.

That response encouraged him to use the platform not just for humor, but also to share encouragement and cultural teachings. Although his videos now reach a large audience, Oswaldson says he has never been interested in personal fame. Instead, he sees social media as a way to connect people — especially young people — to culture, community, and shared experiences.

"People were really scared during that time," he said, reflecting on the early days of the pandemic. "Fear spreads. I wanted people to laugh and feel good and know that just because other people are afraid doesn't mean you have to be."

Many viewers have come to recognize the familiar way he begins his videos: "Boozhoo! I don't know who needs to hear this, but..." His videos often blend humor with reflections on life in the community, and he typically closes with the same message: "Do better. Aho!"

For Oswaldson, the videos are simply another way to share culture in a form that resonates with today's generation.

That commitment to culture is also reflected in his work within the community. Oswaldson serves as a Cultural Practitioner within the Mille Lacs Band Health and Human Services Department where he works alongside Lyndsay Mitchell to support cultural understanding and connection.

Much of what he shares — both online and in his work — comes from the teachings he received growing up from family members and community Elders.

"I was lucky to learn from a lot of great men in my family and from Elders in the community," he said. "They have humor, but they also give teachings that could save your life. The only reason I am here today is because of all the teachings I got growing up here."

Even as a child, he said he knew he wanted to serve his community.

"I remember being little and thinking someday when I grow up l'm going to work for my Tribe — work for my people. I didn't know what I would be doing, but I took a lot of pride in that." Today he carries those teachings forward. Oswaldson is a seated ceremonial dancer who dances for the food. He is also a drum keeper and pipe carrier.

"I give away everything l've been given," he said. "I'm super thankful that | get to do the things that I do — to be Anishi-naabe and to try to be a good man."

Those teachings also shape the messages he shares with young people who follow his videos online. Oswaldson says representation has always mattered to him, and he remembers how meaningful it was as a child to see Native people in the public eye.

"To be able to see Native people on the screen — in movies or online — that means a lot to young kids," he said. "I remember how it made me feel."

Now he sometimes hears those same words from young people who recognize him from his videos.

"When little kids come up and say they watch my videos, it makes me feel really good," he said.

Oswaldson is now 27 years old, but his path has not always been straightforward. While attending Onamia Senior High School, he once had his locker searched by school staff. They found a rolled yellow bandana and a small pouch of tobacco. The bandana was a giveaway from Grand Casino and the tobacco was aseema he used for prayer before football games.

When the items were taken from him, he explained their cultural and personal meaning, but the experience left him frustrated. He eventually transferred to Nay Ah Shing Schools. Although he would have graduated earlier, he needed additional Ojibwe language credits and spent another year studying the language before graduating in 2018.

Looking back, he says the experience ultimately helped shape who he is today.

"Everything happens for a reason," he said. "Any bad thing that has ever happened has turned into something beautiful. I'm grateful for that."

Although Oswaldson's TikTok following continues to grow, he does not think of himself as a digital creator or influencer. What matters most to him is knowing that his words connect with people.

His videos often include singing with his hand drum, reflections on culture and spirituality, and reminders to stay grounded - whether that means spending time in the woods, offering tobacco, or reconnecting with ceremony. He has also used his platform to talk openly about difficult issues affecting Native communities, including mental health and suicide, encouraging viewers to care for their spirits and one another.

"I get messages from people sometimes saying, Thanks for saying that' or 'I really needed to hear that today,'' he said. "And that makes me feel good that I was able to help someone."

Much of what he shares comes directly from the teachings he received from family members and Elders — including his grandfather, Papa, Robert Oswaldson Sr., and his uncle Skip Churchill, his grandmother Niizhood Jeanette Skinaway, and his mother Lana Oswaldson Niizhood.

"I listened to everything the Elders told me," he said. "I took it very seriously."

Now he feels a responsibility to pass those teachings along.

Ultimately, Oswaldson says the purpose behind both his work and his videos is simple: to help people. He believes that when people are struggling, what they often need most is love, understanding, and encouragement.

"When people aren't feeling right, they just need love and hon-or," he said. "There's nothing better than just feeling good. When you feel good, you operate at your best and you can help other people."

That is the spirit behind #Rezzalations - sharing humor, culture, and teachings that remind people who they are and where they come from. He often reminds people to "Protect your spirit," he said. "Ceremony is home. All your needs are met by coming to ceremony."

Oswaldson says he never set out to become popular online, and he still doesn't see fame as the goal. Instead, he focuses on living the teachings he was given and passing them forward

"I always put my tobacco down and hope that whatever is meant to be mine will be mine," he said. "I'll keep doing the things I'm supposed to do — be a good relative, care for my community — and let good things come to me."

For him, the responsibility is simple: carry the teachings and share them.

"Our words have been around for a long time," he said.

"Since woolly mammoths roamed the earth. Those teachings are what kept us here. That's why we are still here today."

And in every video he posts, the message he hopes people carry with them is the same one he carries with himself daily.

"Be a good relative," he said. "The energy you send out will come back to you."