Leigh Joseph is a member of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) First Nation; her ancestral name is Styawat and she is an ethnobotanist by training who completed a Masters of Science in Ethnobotany at the University of Victoria under the guidance of her Skwxwú7mesh community. She is also the founder of Sḵwálwen Botanicals, a line of botanical skin care products that honours traditional Skwxwú7mesh plant knowledge, in which only sustainably-harvested plants and organic, high quality ingredients are integrated. 

In this conversation with host Shayla Oulette Stonechild, Leigh speaks of her family traditions, who instilled a deep respect for the natural world in her starting at a young age, as well as the links between food and culture in ancestral Indigenous culture. She recounts her childhood memories of eating freshly harvested ingredients as well as the spirituality woven into the process of growing and preparing food — an offering of thanks to the plants and animals that had given their lives for our nourishment. In this beautiful exchange, Leigh shares how her work with plants offers a renewed connection to the land and to traditional Squamish knowledge.

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Lesley Hampton is an Anishinaabe and Mohawk womenswear designer and artist based in Toronto whose fashion label is focuses on body positivity and Indigenous representation. Lesley’s brand offers collections that range from eveningwear to athleisure—Lizzo was recently seen working out in one of her two-piece sets. Lesley also believes in the importance of partnering with other Indigenous designers; a recent collab with Scott Wabano saw her create a jacket inspired by traditional jingle dresses. In this conversation, Lesley speaks to host Shayla Oulette Stonechild about the challenges she faces in the fashion industry; raising awareness for mental health; and the subtle nuances that make cultural appropriation different than appreciation. 

This episode of Matriarch Movement is brought to you by Louve Design, a women-owned and women-led socially responsible fashion retailer and manufacturer, specializing in sustainable women’s clothing, with all pieces made and designed in Canada. Shop at louvedesign.com and use code SHAYLASHIPPING for free shipping at checkout!

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Ilona Verley is Nlaka'pamux and the first Indigenous, Two-Spirit and LA-Based queen to appear on Canada's Drag Race, and in the franchise as a whole. Originally from so-called Vancouver, Ilona identifies as non-binary. She* auditioned for Drag Race a total of three times before making it onto the Canadian version of the show where she made it to 6th place, and appeared until episode 7. In this conversation, host Shayla Oulette Stonechild and Ilona speak about representation, Ilona’s journey as Two-Spirit, and they discussed the importance of honouring the Indigenous way of life and values through one’s work and culture.

This episode was recorded before the devastating news of the finding of the unmarked buried remains of 215 children at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia just a few days ago. “Only when Indigenous peoples have the opportunity, authority, accountability and support to care for their own communities and families – through the governments they have determined and according to their own laws and traditions – will the challenges that are with us be addressed.” (Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond)

*Ilona’s pronouns are she/her.

This episode of Matriarch Movement is brought to you by Louve Design, a women-owned and women-led socially responsible fashion retailer and manufacturer, specializing in sustainable women’s clothing, with all pieces made and designed in Canada. Shop at louvedesign.com and use code SHAYLASHIPPING for free shipping at checkout!

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Tanya Talaga does not need an introduction at this point: she is an award-winning Canadian journalist and author of Polish and Indigenous descent, and the First Ojibway woman to deliver the CBC Massey Lectures. Her book Seven Fallen Feathers, a national bestseller that tells the story of even Indigenous high school students who mysteriously died in Thunder Bay, won the 2018 RBC Taylor Prize. Through her work, Tanya shares Indigenous stories from across Turtle Island and the world, humanizing the legacy of residential schools and colonization and sharing her hope for a more inclusive and equitable future. Tanya’s great-grandmother was a residential school survivor and her great-grandfather was an Ojibwe trapper and labourer. Today Tanya works for The Globe and Mail, after spending most her career at The Toronto Star.

In this conversation, Tanya speaks to host Shayla Oulette Stonechild about her motivation to write and share Indigenous stories for greater representation, of the impact her writing can have to defend human rights, and she speaks of the matriarchs who have influenced her along the way. And you'll definitely want to hear her intro to the Seven Truths.

This episode of Matriarch Movement is brought to you by Louve Design, a women-owned and women-led socially responsible fashion retailer and manufacturer, specializing in sustainable women’s clothing, with all pieces made and designed in Canada. Shop at louvedesign.com and use code SHAYLASHIPPING for free shipping at checkout!

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Nimkish is a rising Indigiqueer pop artist living on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, known as Vancouver, Canada. Her first album, Heartbreak On The Coast, was released in 2019 and and her latest single, YSB, featuring artist ASCXNSION, came out just a few days ago, to her fans’ great delight. Her new album, Damage Control, was written during a period of uncertainty, offering an intimate and vulnerable glimpse into her life. 

In this conversation with host Shayla Oulette Stonechild, Nimkish speaks of her creative process, of the challenges that come with being an Indigiqueer artist, and she shares her views on a future anchored in matriarchy and a return to an Indigenous way of life.

This episode of Matriarch Movement is brought to you by Louve Design, a women-owned and women-led socially responsible fashion retailer and manufacturer, specializing in sustainable women’s clothing, with all pieces made and designed in Canada. Shop at louvedesign.com and use code SHAYLASHIPPING for free shipping at checkout!

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This episode features host Shayla Oulette Stonechild in conversation with Nahanni Fontaine, a Canadian politician, MLA with the NDP in Manitoba, public speaker, advocate, and Indigenous Matriarch, about last week's erasure and censorship of posts about Missing Indigenous Women, Girls and 2-spirit by Instagram. In this raw conversation, Nahanni also opens up about her journey, with no details off limits, because the past makes the present. Listen as she shares her previous struggles with addiction, and recounts the life-changing encounter with an elder who helped reset her course by making her realize the power of her Indigenous lineage. Shayla and her guest also discuss colonization and systemic racism; the work Nahanni does with and for Indigenous women; and why she's unapologetic in her fight for equality and change through politics and policy, including the defence of #MMIWG2S. Trigger warning: this conversation contains discussion of drug addiction, and overdose.

This episode of Matriarch Movement is brought to you by Louve Design, a women-owned and women-led socially responsible fashion retailer and manufacturer, specializing in sustainable women’s clothing, with all pieces made and designed in Canada. Shop at louvedesign.com and use code SHAYLASHIPPING for free shipping at checkout!

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Originally from the US Pacific Northwest, Korina Emmerich was inspired to create clothes and accessories that honour her patrilineal Indigenous heritage from The Coast Salish Territory, Puyallup tribe. Today her brand, EMME Studio, is a fixture in leading fashion publications, and her approach to sustainable clothing is recognized by her peers and loyal clients across the US and globally.

Focused on shining a spotlight on social and climate justice in addition to fighting for increased industry responsibility and accountability, Korina’s goal is to dismantle systems of oppression, and challenge colonial ways of thinking.

As part of her work as an educator for sustainability and impact, she is a member of the Board of Directors for The Slow Factory Foundation as well as a speaker who attends global conferences to address slow fashion, dismantling white supremacy, environmental racism, sovereignty, climate and social justice, and combating systemic racism. 

In her conversation with host Shayla Oulette Stonechild, Korina reflects on what sustainable choices look like when it comes to the way we consume fashion, and talks about how Indigenous communities have always incorporated principles of circularity and sustainability in their way of life. 

This episode of Matriarch Movement is brought to you by Louve Design, a women-owned and women-led socially responsible fashion retailer and manufacturer, specializing in sustainable women’s clothing, with all pieces made and designed in Canada. Shop at louvedesign.com and use code SHAYLASHIPPING for free shipping at checkout!

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Michelle Chubb, known by her handle @indigenous_baddie, is a 23-year-old social media star, with almost half a million followers on TikTok where she shares content blending Indigenous regalia, relatable anecdotes, and social justice activism. She is Néhinaw, or Swampy Cree, currently part of Oxford House, a First Nations Cree community in Northern Manitoba. Growing up in the city of Winnipeg, Michelle spent summers with family at Cross Lake reservation, a place where she could learn ancestral traditions. After going through a difficult time when she lost her grandfather, she reconnected with her Indigenous identity through ancestral art forms, including jingle dress dancing, a practice which she shares a lot about with her followers, including making her own dresses and regalia, in additional to traditional beading. Michelle believes in the power of authenticity and vulnerability showing through her social media presence, and she frequently calls out daily incidents of racism, discrimnation and brings awareness for issues facing Indigenous communities in the Prairies, Canada and beyond. She’s attracted attention from mainstream brands, including eyewear brand BonLook which featured her in a campaign recently, and she was featured by Teen Vogue, in addition to being named one of Canada’s ‘Women of Influence’ in the latest cohort. Listen to her conversation with host Shayla Oulette Stonechild where Michelle talks about finding her voice, staying true to her roots and tapping into the infinite potential of authenticity.

This episode is brought to you by Louve Design, a women-owned and women-led socially and environmentally-responsible fashion brand, with all pieces made and designed in Canada. Shop at louvedesign.com and use code SHAYLASHIPPING for free shipping at checkout!

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Cheyenne Leskanic is of Mvskoke, Italian & Scottish ancestry and she is the founder of Three Medicines Longhouse & Three Medicines Birth. With a little over a decade of experience as a Yoga teacher, and as many years of recovery from substance addiction behind her, Cheyenne has made it her purpose to live in integrity and to create places of connection for all people. Drawing on her own experience, she is also a drug and alcohol abuse counsellor who has brought wellness programs into schools, halfway houses, rehab centres & studios. She is also focused on honouring her Mvskoke heritage and works to protect tribal sovereignty while also integrating intersectional partnerships with All Our Relations on this land. Finally, she is a mom of four, and a wife. Cheyenne spoke to host Shayla Oulette Stonechild about her experience with addiction, and how her work today is to teach what she wished she was taught. 

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“The history is not your fault, but it is absolutely your responsibility.” In this episode, host Shayla Oulette Stonechild speaks with decolonial educator Nikki Sanchez, a Pipil/Maya and Irish/Scottish academic, who is also an Indigenous media maker and environmental educator.

Nikki holds a masters degree in Indigenous Governance and has completed her Ph.D. with a research focus on emerging visual media technology as it relates to Indigenous ontology; she has been the David Suzuki Foundation’s “Queen of Green” where her work centered on environmental journalism, social media and digital media creation to provide sustainable solutions for a healthy planet, as well as content creation to bring more racial and gender inclusivity into the environmental movement. Nikki led the 8-part documentary VICELAND series “RISE” focused on global Indigenous resurgence; she is a TEDx speaker; she has been a wilderness guide and environmental educator in the Nuu-chah-nulth territory of Clayoquot Sound for over 10 years; and she is the creator and director of “Decolonize Together” a collective of Indigenous women who offer decolonial and inclusivity workshops and curriculum creation. Nikki is a guest contributor for DavidSuzuki.Org, Loose Lips Magazine, ROAR Magazine and more. 

Nikki believes that an equitable and just future depends on the courage we show today and in this conversation, she shares her advice for settlers who want to begin decolonization work; she talks about the meaning behind the concept of ‘matriarchy’ and she speaks of her lifelong pursuit to inspire a bright future for the next Indigenous generations.

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