In this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast, host Shayla Ouellette Stonechild speaks with Kaitlin B. Curtice, an award-winning author and poet. They explore themes of identity, belonging, and the intersection of Indigenous spirituality and Christianity. Kaitlin shares her journey in reclaiming her Potawatomi identity, the importance of rituals in her spiritual practice, and her approach to writing and storytelling. The conversation also delves into the concept of resistance, defining it in a holistic way that encompasses personal care, community building, and ancestral connections. They also discuss the challenges posed by AI in literature, the necessity of reconnecting with Mother Earth, and envisioning a future where Indigenous voices thrive and are celebrated.

Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, Kaitlin writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. She also speaks on these topics to diverse audiences who are interested in truth-telling and healing. 

In 2020 Kaitlin’s award-winning book Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God won Georgia Author of the Year in the religion category. Native explores the relationship between American Christianity and Indigenous peoples, drawing on Kaitlin’s experiences as a Potawatomi woman.

In 2023, Kaitlin released two books, first, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day, which examines the journey of resisting the status quo of hate by caring for ourselves, one another, and Mother Earth, and second, her first children’s book called Winter’s Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature, which is the premier book in a series of four books on the four seasons coming out with Convergent, RandomHouse Books. Her second book in the series called Summer’s Magic was released in 2024. 

Kaitlin's newest book, Everything Is a Story, is about the power of storytelling and how we use stories to harm or heal ourselves, one another, and Mother Earth.

⁠kaitlincurtice.com⁠ 

instagram.com/kaitlincurtice

The Liminality Journal:  ⁠https://kaitlincurtice.substack.com⁠

⁠Thanks for checking out this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast! If you enjoyed the conversation, please leave a comment and thumbs-up on YouTube, or leave a five star review on your favourite podcast app!

Find Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shayla0h/⁠⁠⁠

Find more about Matriarch Movement at ⁠⁠⁠https://matriarchmovement.ca/⁠⁠

This podcast is produced by Women in Media Network

⁠⁠⁠https://www.womeninmedia.network/show/matriarch-movement/

(00:00) Introduction to Caitlin B. Curtis

(02:03) Exploring Identity and Belonging

(06:47) The Intersection of Christianity and Indigenous Spirituality

(11:34) Rituals and Personal Spiritual Practices

(15:11) The Journey of Writing and Storytelling

(17:52) Defining Resistance and Its Realms

(22:48) Navigating the Realms of Existence

(27:14) The Power of Storytelling and Writing

(31:27) The Impact of AI on Literature

(34:25) Reconnecting with Mother Earth

(36:50) Envisioning Indigenous Futurism

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*Episode Disclaimer* This episode mentions suicide and discusses a journey to sobriety; the content may be triggering for some and listener discretion is advised.

In this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast, host Shayla Oulette Stonechild engages in a heartfelt conversation with Braden Kadlun, an Inuk content creator and advocate for Indigenous culture. They discuss Braden's journey of healing and sobriety, the importance of matriarchs in Indigenous communities, and the role of social media in amplifying Inuit voices. Braden shares insights on his experiences growing up in different regions, the challenges he faced, and his aspirations for the future of Inuit culture. He also talks about his book on sobriety and offers advice for those looking to learn more about Inuit culture and content creation.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Braden's Journey

(06:04) Healing Through Rehabilitation and Cultural Affirmation

(11:58) The Impact of Social Media on Storytelling

(17:51) Writing a Book on Sobriety

(23:56) Inuit Futurism and Community Aspirations

More About Braden Kadlun:

Whether he’s in front of the camera, spending time in his 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.

In 2022 Braden decided to take 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. In fall 2024, he published his first book, A Guide to Sobriety: 10 Gentle Reminders, where he shares how specific practices helped transform his own life, encouraging readers to explore what may work for them—whether from his experience or their own.

Now 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.  

Braden’s recent endeavors include winning the 2024 Indspire Inuit Youth of the Year award, 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!

Follow Braden on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/bradenkadlun/ ⁠

Find out more about Braden and his work:⁠ https://linktr.ee/kadlun⁠ 

Other creators and links Braden mentioned in this episode:

Learn about Inuit Culture: ⁠https://www.itk.ca/⁠

Susan Aglukark Inuit Foundation: ⁠https://arcticrose.org/⁠

⁠https://gem.cbc.ca/north-of-north⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/shinanova/⁠ 

https://www.instagram.com/willow.allen/⁠ 

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast! If you enjoyed the conversation, please leave a comment and thumbs-up on YouTube, or leave a five star review on your favourite podcast app!

Find Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram:

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shayla0h/⁠⁠

Find more about Matriarch Movement at ⁠⁠https://matriarchmovement.ca/⁠

This podcast is produced by Women in Media Network

⁠⁠https://www.womeninmedia.network/show/matriarch-movement/

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In this conversation, Shayla Ouellette Stonechild interviews Dr. Lyla June Johnston, an Indigenous musician, scholar, and community organizer. Dr. Johnston shares her journey of overcoming trauma and addiction, emphasizing the importance of prayer and connection to Creator in her healing process. She discusses the significance of service to the community and how education can be a powerful tool for Indigenous empowerment. Lyla advocates for building alternative systems that honor Indigenous values and knowledge, highlighting the need for regenerative practices to heal both people and the earth. Shayla and Lyla explore the significance of matriarchy, the importance of healing within Indigenous communities, and the role of future generations in the fight for justice and equality. 

More Info about Lyla and Her Work:

Dr. Lyla June Johnston (aka Lyla June) is a poet, singer-songwriter, hip-hop artist, human ecologist, public speaker and community organizer of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) and European lineages. Her multi-genre presentation style has engaged audiences across the globe towards personal, collective and ecological healing. Her messages focus on Indigenous issues and solutions, supporting youth, inter-cultural healing, historical trauma, and traditional land stewardship practices. She blends her study of Human Ecology at Stanford, graduate work in Indigenous Pedagogy, and the traditional worldview she grew up with to inform her music, perspectives and solutions. Her doctoral research focused on the ways in which pre-colonial Indigenous Nations shaped large regions of Turtle Island (aka the Americas) to produce abundant food systems for humans and non-humans. Her internationally acclaimed live performances are conveyed through the medium of speech, hip-hop, poetry, and acoustic music. Her personal goal is to grow closer to Creator by learning how to love deeper.

https://www.lylajune.com/

https://www.instagram.com/lylajune/

https://www.youtube.com/@LylaJune

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast! If you enjoyed the conversation, please leave a comment and thumbs-up on YouTube, or leave a five star review on your favourite podcast app!

Find Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram:

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shayla0h/⁠⁠

Find more about Matriarch Movement at ⁠⁠https://matriarchmovement.ca/

⁠

This podcast is produced by Women in Media Network

⁠⁠https://www.womeninmedia.network/show/matriarch-movement/⁠

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In this conversation, Shayla Ouellette Stonechild interviews Sherri Mitchell, an Indigenous author, attorney, and activist. They discuss the concept of rematriation, Sherri's personal journey and connection to the land, the changes in Indigenous representation, and the impact of technology on our connection to nature. Sherri shares her insights on the importance of collective healing and the role of Indigenous women and Two-Spirit people in leadership. They also explore the significance of Indigenous oral traditions, and the need for guidance from elders, discussing the balance of masculine and feminine energies and the responsibility of individuals to co-create a harmonious future together.

More Info about Sherri and Her Work:

Sherri Mitchell -Weh’na Ha’mu Kwasset, is an Indigenous attorney, activist, and author from the Penobscot Nation. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona’s Roger’s College of Law, specializing in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy. She is an alumna of the American Indian Ambassador Program, and the Udall Native American Congressional Internship Program. Sherri is the author of the award-winning book, Sacred Instructions; Indigenous Wisdom for Living Spirit-Based Change, which has been published in four languages. She is also a contributor to more than a dozen anthologies, including the best seller, All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, along with Resetting Our Future: Empowering Climate Action in the United States, and My life: Growing Up Native in America. Sherri is also the founding Director of the Land Peace Foundation, an Indigenous educational organization that focuses on Indigenous leadership, environmental justice, land rematriation, and kinship building. The Land Peace Foundation has provided training for some of the largest environmental NGO’s on the planet, helping them develop better policies and procedures for engaging with Indigenous Peoples living on the front lines of climate change.

https://www.landpeacefoundation.org/

https://www.landpeacefoundation.org/events

https://www.sacredinstructions.life/ 

https://www.instagram.com/sacred_instructions/

https://www.northatlanticbooks.com/shop/sacred-instructions/

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast! If you enjoyed the conversation, please leave a comment and thumbs-up on YouTube, or leave a five star review on your favourite podcast app!

Find Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/shayla0h/⁠

Find more about Matriarch Movement at ⁠https://matriarchmovement.ca/

This podcast is produced by Women in Media Network

⁠https://www.womeninmedia.network/show/matriarch-movement/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Shayla Oulette Stonechild is back with a new season and special guest, the just-elected Tréchelle Bunn; the first woman and youngest Chief of BirdTail Sioux Dakota Nation. They discuss Tréchelle's historic election, her journey of leadership, the influence of matriarchs in her life, and her advocacy for Indigenous women and girls. Tréchelle shares her experiences growing up between two cultures, the importance of community support, and her vision for the future. The conversation also highlights the Reconciliation Run, a healing initiative that honors residential school survivors and promotes awareness of Indigenous issues.

More About Tréchelle Bunn:

Tréchelle Bunn is the first woman and youngest person ever elected Chief of Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation, and one of the youngest serving Chiefs in Canada.

She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and a minor in Indigenous Studies, and is currently pursuing a law degree at Robson Hall, the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba.

A dedicated advocate for Indigenous rights and youth empowerment, Tréchelle has spoken on provincial, national, and international stages, including at the United Nations. She is the founder of the Reconciliation Run - Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation half-marathon. A former university hockey player, she also established the first Indigenous student-athlete scholarship at the University of Manitoba.

Her leadership and advocacy have been recognized with numerous honours, including the Indspire First Nations Youth Award, the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the CBC Manitoba Future 40 Award, and the University of Manitoba Outstanding Young Alumni Award

https://www.reconciliationrun.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/trechellle/

https://scoinc.mb.ca/congratulations-chief-trechelle-bunn/

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast! If you enjoyed the conversation, please leave a comment and thumbs-up on YouTube, or leave a five star review on your favourite podcast app!

Find Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/shayla0h/

Find more about Matriarch Movement at https://matriarchmovement.ca/

This podcast is produced by Women in Media Network

https://www.womeninmedia.network/show/matriarch-movement/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The future of Indigenous entrepreneurship looks like a circular economy. But how do we get there?

Jacqueline Jennings, entrepreneur coach and startup strategist, joins the Matriarch Movement to lay everything on the table about what it takes to be an Indigenous entrepreneur. She also unpacks the relationship between financial decision-makers, pan-indigeneity, rematriation and what the next generation of Indigenous entrepreneurs looks like.

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast! If you enjoyed the conversation, please leave a comment and thumbs-up on YouTube, or leave a five star review on your favourite podcast app!

Find Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram: @shayla0h

Find more about Matriarch Movement at matriarchmovement.com

Our producer is Nicole Robertson with Muskwa Productions.

Our podcast producer is Kattie Laur.

Our videographer is Sara Cornthwaite.

Behind the scenes photography is by Kiki Guerard, Michelle Aregentieri, and Stephanie Neves.

Special thanks to the Indigenous Screen Office for supporting this video podcast!

Hiy Hiy!

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Host Shayla Ouellette Stonechild interviews Indigenous fashion trailblazer Himikalas Pam Baker. They discuss Baker's journey into fashion, her experiences in fashion school as a single mother, and the cultural influences that have shaped her designs. The conversation also touches on the significance of the red dress in raising awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and the challenges faced by Indigenous designers in the industry. Baker emphasizes the importance of mentorship, cultural responsibility, and community empowerment through her work. She reminds Indigenous designers to define success through happiness with a focus on positivity and community support for Indigenous artists.

Find out more about Himikalas Pam Baker:

toclegendshouseofdesign.ca

www.legaleriste.com/touch.of.culture

flow/page/pambakerhimikalas

https://www.instagram.com/himikalas

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast! Leave comments and a thumbs up for us on YouTube, or leave a five star review on your favourite podcast app!

Find Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shayla0h/

Find more about Matriarch Movement: https://matriarchmovement.ca/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@matriarch.movement

This episode is produced by Sarah Burke and the Women in Media Network.

Special thanks to the Indigenous Screen Office for supporting this podcast!

Hiy Hiy!

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction to Indigenous Fashion and Community Empowerment

(01:59) The Journey into Fashion Design

(06:27) Navigating Fashion School as a Single Mother

(11:29) Cultural Influence in Fashion Design

(14:34) The Significance of the Red Dress

(21:57) Mentorship and Cultural Responsibility in Design

(23:40) Challenges Faced as an Indigenous Designer

(24:12) Giving Back and Defining Success

(27:06) Advice for Young Indigenous Entrepreneurs

(29:07) The Future of Indigenous Fashion

(33:36) Reinventing Oneself in the Fashion Industry

(36:39) Staying Positive and Supporting Indigenous Artists

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What happens when Indigenous creatives are recognized in the mainstream?

Cynthia Lickers-Sage, community-building powerhouse and co-founder of the renowned ImagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival, joins Matriarch Movement to share how a long-standing relationship to storytelling has helped create so many internationally recognized gatherings of Indigenous creators. 

She discusses what it meant to see the first Indigenous film festival qualify a film for Oscar consideration, how fast an artist's life can change when they’re given opportunity, and how we pay it forward to the next generation. Plus she and Shayla can’t help but dig into the impact AI could have on Indigenous storytellers!

Find out more about Cynthia Lickers-Sage: https://ipaa.ca/indigenous-artist/?member=c_lickers_sage

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast! Leave comments and a thumbs up for us on YouTube, or leave a five star review on your favourite podcast app!

Find Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shayla0h/

Find more about Matriarch Movement: https://matriarchmovement.ca/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@matriarch.movement

Our producer is Nicole Robertson with Muskwa Productions.

Our podcast producer is Kattie Laur.

Our videographer is Sara Cornthwaite.

Behind the scenes photography is by Kiki Guerard, Michelle Aregentieri, and Stephanie Neves.

Special thanks to the Indigenous Screen Office for supporting this video podcast!

This episode is distributed by the Women in Media Network.

Hiy Hiy!

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What would happen if we stopped following the Gregorian calendar – January to December – and instead, we reclaimed our relationship to time living by the 13 moons? 

Best-selling Author of “You Are the Medicine”, “The Sacred Medicine Oracle” and Indigenous healer, Asha Frost, joins the Matriarch Movement podcast and discusses the impact of following the calendar of the 13 moons, and why there seems to be more reclamation and acceptance around Indigenous ways of healing these days. She also pulls some Sacred Medicine oracle cards for the listening collective, and discusses her journey to homeopathy after being diagnosed with Lupus.

Find out more about Asha Frost: https://ashafrost.com/

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast! Leave comments and a thumbs up for us on YouTube, or leave a five star review on your favourite podcast app!

Find Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shayla0h/

Find more about Matriarch Movement: https://matriarchmovement.ca/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@matriarch.movement

Our producer is Nicole Robertson with Muskwa Productions.

Our podcast producer is Kattie Laur.

Our videographer is Sara Cornthwaite.

Behind the scenes photography is by Kiki Guerard, Michelle Aregentieri, and Stephanie Neves.

Special thanks to the Indigenous Screen Office for supporting this video podcast!

This episode is distributed by the Women in Media Network.

Hiy Hiy!

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Host Shayla Ouellette Stonechild interviews Lauren Good Day, a multi-award-winning Indigenous artist and fashion designer. They discuss the significance of matriarchy in Indigenous cultures, Lauren's journey into fashion, and the essence of her brand, which honours cultural heritage through art and design. Lauren shares her creative process, the challenges she faces as an Indigenous entrepreneur, and offers advice to young Indigenous creatives. Together, they highlight the importance of cultural appreciation and the future of Indigenous fashion.

Lauren Good Day “Good Day Woman” is an Multi- award winning Arikara, Hidatsa, Blackfeet and Plains Cree artist & sought after fashion designer. She is an enrolled member of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation) of the Ft. Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, USA and also a registered Treaty Indian with the Sweet Grass Cree First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada. She has shown her artwork at the world’s most prestigious Native American juried art shows such as the Santa Fe Indian Market in Santa Fe NM, Heard Guild Museum Market in Phoenix AZ, Autry American Indian Arts Marketplace Los Angeles CA, Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market Indianapolis IN, Cherokee Indian Market in Tulsa OK, Red Earth Fine Arts Festival in Oklahoma City OK and the Northern Plains Indian Art Show in Sioux Falls SD. Her Awards include many First Places in Tribal Arts, Traditional Arts, Cultural Arts, Diverse Arts, Beadwork, Drawings, Textiles and the prestigious Best of Tribal Arts award. Lauren’s artwork has been part of numerous solo and group exhibitions at galleries and museums across the Country.

Being a sought after artist and designer her work is in numerous public and private collections throughout the United States, Canada and the World, including the The National Museum of American Indian Washington DC and New York City, The Heard Museum, Phoenix AZ, Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Plains Indian Museum Cody Wyoming, and Red Cloud Heritage Center Pine Ridge SD. You can find her work and mentions in publications such as Vogue, InStyle Magazine, New York Times, Fashion Magazine, Cowboys & Indians Magazine, Cosmopolitan and numerous national and international publications.

Find out more about Lauren Good Day:

https://laurengoodday.com/pages/about-the-artist 

https://www.instagram.com/laurengoodday/

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast! Leave comments and a thumbs up for us on YouTube, or leave a five star review on your favourite podcast app!

Find Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shayla0h/

Find more about Matriarch Movement: https://matriarchmovement.ca/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@matriarch.movement

This episode is produced by Sarah Burke and the Women in Media Network.

Special thanks to the Indigenous Screen Office for supporting this podcast!

Hiy Hiy!

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction to Indigenous Art and Culture

(01:55) Understanding Matriarchy in Indigenous Cultures

(05:00) The Journey into Fashion and Art

(09:14) The Essence of the Lauren Goodday Brand

(16:05) Creative Process and Cultural Significance

(19:59) Challenges of Being an Indigenous Entrepreneur

(28:10) Advice for Young Indigenous Entrepreneurs

(30:59) Cultural Appreciation and Future of Indigenous Fashion

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