A pro football player is back in Winnipeg for the first time in 15 years. Tchissakid (T-Dre) Player is using his past to relate to students in the North End.

Player was born in Winnipeg, though he grew up in Texas. His mother is from Sagkeeng First Nation and his father is black.

B.C. Lions offensive guard T-Dre Player visited St. John's High School Friday. His mother is from Sagkeeng First Nation. (CBC) He says he knows how it feels to struggle with identity.

“It made me a bit of an outsider," he said. "The more they tried to figure me out, the more I wanted to be myself.”

He says football helped him find a connection to his culture.

“To have football as that outlet for that warrior spirit or my culture, to represent who I was, it just resonated with me.”

Player said that’s why he wanted to speak with students at St. John’s High School.

“Hopefully they can take something from my story, apply it to their lives and be successful.”

Curtis Richard has been playing on the football team at St. John's High School for five years. River Fontaine, a student at the school says he’s happy to have a role model he can relate to, especially one from Sagkeeng.

“It proves that we can do better, go further in life, not only on the field but off the field — in academics,” said Fontaine.

Curtis Richard is graduating this year and has been playing football for five years. He says he’s had questions about if he should keep playing.

“I was having second thoughts about it, he made me make my final decision, I am going to play for St. Vital,” said Richard.

Player’s advice to all students was to work hard, even if you’re not on the field.

“I would say pay attention, be successful in school, because that is the most important, always challenge yourself.”