Matriarch Movement

This week on the podcast, host Shayla Stonechild is joined by Caitlyn Kasper. Caitlyn is an Anishinaabek woman from the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation. She holds an Honours Specialist in Political Science from the University of Toronto and a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall. She is currently a candidate for a Master of Laws at Osgoode Hall, with a specialization in Constitutional Law. In 2014, Caitlyn joined Aboriginal Legal Services as legal counsel in Toronto, Ontario. Her legal expertise is in appellate court law reform and test case litigation in criminal, child welfare and civil rights. Her work for Indigenous people centres on police violence, investigation of sudden death, inquest, and victim advocacy. Caitlyn has represented clients at every level of court within the country, including the Supreme Court of Canada, always advocating for recognition of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit perspective and representation on issues that most impact Indigenous people in Canadian law. In this episode, Caitlyn and Shayla discuss the importance of non-Indigenous people/settlers' need to hold up their end of the treaties, and how we are all "treaty people" in this country. Caitlyn also discusses why she thinks the Catholic Church refuses to apologize to Indigenous communities about Residential Schools.

...

Follow Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram Visit thebrandisfemale.com.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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

If you've been following Shayla for a while, you know that this episode has been highly anticipated. This week, host Shayla Stonechild is joined by Inuk politician, Mumilaaq Qaqqaq. Mumilaaq Qaqqaq (ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ), is an Inuk woman, Member of Parliament, and human rights defender. Elected in 2019, she is one of the few people to have given a speech in the House of Commons before being elected. The two dive deep into how Mumilaaq got into politics, her experience as an Inuk woman in the House of Commons, and why she believes her ideologies were different from other politicians. Shayla and Mumilaaq discuss the differences between Inuit culture and other Indigenous cultures, and what life is like in the North. Mumilaaq explains her experience with the NDP party, and what she plans on doing next.

...

Follow Mumilaaq Qaqqaq on Instagram Follow Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram Visit thebrandisfemale.com.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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

This week, host Shayla Oulette Stonechild is joined by writer, podcaster, and CBC Radio host, Falen Johnson. Falen is Mohawk and Tuscarora (Bear Clan) from Six Nations Grand River Territory. Her writing has been featured in Brick, The Canadian Theatre Review, Granta Magazine, and she was named one to watch in 2020 by Maclean’s magazine. In this episode, Shayla and Falen discuss the importance of Indigenous storytelling and the necessity for Indigenous people to be in control of their own narratives. Falen discusses the power of rage and how this emotion should not be ignored, especially as Indigenous people continue to live through colonization. The two also discuss how Indigenous futurism is happening right now, as more Indigenous folks are making their own content and connecting with one another.

...

Follow Falen Johnson on Instagram Follow Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram Visit thebrandisfemale.com.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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

This week, host Shayla Oulette Stonechild is joined by Vancouver-based, award-winning journalist, author, and artist from the Gitanmaax band of the Gitxsan nation, Angela Sterritt. In 2021, Angela won a Canadian Screen Award for reporter of the year for her coverage of an Indigenous man and his then 12-year-old granddaughter who was racially profiled and arrested while trying to open her first bank account at BMO. Furthermore, in 2020, Angela was nominated for the best local reporter by the Canadian Screen Awards for her reporting on Indigenous babies apprehended by the Ministry of Children and Family Development. In all of her work, Angela aims to break stereotypes, create meaningful change, and form relationships in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

...

Follow Angela Sterritt on Instagram Follow Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram Visit thebrandisfemale.com.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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

This week, host Shayla Oulette Stonechild is joined by Chippewa and Potawatomi artist from Rama First Nation and Moosedeer Point First Nation, Chief Lady Bird. You may have seen her thought-provoking artwork that explores contemporary colonialism and Indigenous futurism on murals in Toronto, or in illustrations for the Art Gallery of Ontario, Vice, and Flare Magazine. Chief Lady Bird is also a book illustrator, and in 2019, she illustrated the Scholastic children’s book Nibi’s Water Song by Sunshine Tenasco of Her Braids, which is being released in the US in Fall 2021. Tune in to listen to the duo discuss the importance of reconnection to land-based knowledge and various forms of love (self-love, lateral love, ancestral love).

...

Follow Chief Lady Bird on Instagram Follow Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram Visit thebrandisfemale.com.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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

This week, host Shayla Oulette Stonechild is joined by guest Monday Blues. Monday is a Two-Spirit Togolese-Secwépemc showgirl, model, decolonial life & business coach, and jewelry designer. Monday is a grad of the Erickson International Coaching Program, and has been a professional burlesque performer since 2011. She has traveled the globe as a solo female adventurer and loves to live outside her comfort zone. Monday strives to exist without limits and hopes to help those who have also experienced marginalization feel just as empowered. She is a member of Virago Nation, an all-Indigenous burlesque troupe on a mission to reclaim Indigenous sexuality from the toxic effects of colonization, and signed with Supernaturals Modelling, an Indigenous boutique modelling agency.

In this episode, Monday discusses the importance of being rooted in authenticity, and the journey she has been on towards reclaiming her two identities. The two discuss the importance of being rooted in ancestral knowledge, the anti-racism work both Shayla and Monday have been doing, and her exciting new jewellery line that launches on June 30th.

...

Follow Monday Blues on Instagram Follow Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram Visit thebrandisfemale.com.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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

Ashley Callingbull is a Cree First Nations woman from the Enoch Cree Nation in the province of Alberta, Canada. She is a model, actress, jingle dress dancer and First Nation’s activist who was the reigning Mrs. Universe 2015. She is perhaps best known for her role on the Gemini award-winning series Blackstone and Tribal, but her work goes well beyond the screen. Ashley is also an international motivational speaker who has spoken at Harvard University and TED Talks. She is devoted to her culture and people, and takes great pride in her Native Cree heritage, and has shown this through her volunteer work with community Elders and youth. Listen to this episode to hear Ashley's story, why she does the work that she does, and what her goals are for the future.

...

Follow Ashley Callingbull on Instagram Follow Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram Visit thebrandisfemale.com.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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

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.

...

Follow Sḵwálwen Botanicals on Instagram Visit Sḵwálwen Botanicals online Follow Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram Visit thebrandisfemale.com.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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

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!

...

Follow Lesley Hampton on Instagram Follow Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram Visit thebrandisfemale.com.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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

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!

...

Follow Ilona on Instagram Follow Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram Visit thebrandisfemale.com.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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