In this rich and heartfelt episode of The Next Ancestors Podcast, host Erin Brillon sits down with Dr. Evelyn Voyageur, a respected Kwakwaka’wakw matriarch, nurse, and cultural knowledge keeper, to share reflections from a life deeply rooted in traditional teachings and Kwakwala language.

Raised in the Big House traditions, Dr. Voyageur speaks about the early cultural influences in her life, the importance of Kwakwala as her first language, and the deep teachings she learned through observation and community living. She shares how her family's dedication to tradition led to the revival of the coming-of-age ceremony, reintroduced through her granddaughter’s research and celebrated through her great-granddaughter’s rite of passage.

The episode also explores the sacred role of matriarchs and what it means to lead with love, patience, generosity, and humility, rooted in strong family lineage. Dr. Voyageur offers a powerful reminder of the aspects of culture that must remain true to the old ways, especially in a time when cultural appropriation and dilution are ever-present risks.

Her words offer both a gentle call to responsibility and an uplifting vision of cultural continuity, guided by the strength and grace of Indigenous women.

#IndigenousWisdom  

#EvelynVoyageur  

#NextAncestorsPodcast  

#MatriarchPower  

#CulturalRevival  

#FirstNationsVoices  

#TraditionalTeachings  

#IndigenousCulture  

#LanguageRevitalization  

#BigHouseTeachings  

#ComingOfAgeCeremony  

#WomenInLeadership  

#DecolonizeNow  

#HonourOurElders  

#IndigenousWomenLead

In this moving episode of The Next Ancestors Podcast, host Erin Brillon is joined by Chief William Wasden Jr., a renowned cultural leader, language champion, and composer of traditional songs. Together, they explore the sacred responsibilities of cultural prerogatives, the role of mentorship, and the deep spiritual process of creating and reviving songs in the language of his people.

Chief Wasden reflects on the influential cultural teachers who shaped his journey and the importance of humility and curiosity in the learning process. He shares how songs are more than just melodies—they are vessels of ancestral spirit, knowledge, and connection. With great care and insight, he explains how he not only composes original songs in his own language but also supports other Nations in creating songs rooted in their own teachings, territory, and ceremonial purpose.

At the heart of the conversation is a powerful teaching: that true inspiration is found by returning to the land—walking, listening, and reconnecting with the spirits of our ancestors who continue to guide us. Chief Wasden also speaks candidly about the emotional toll that can come with following a cultural path in communities where lateral violence and jealousy sometimes surface, and he offers grounding wisdom on staying positive, focused, and spiritually aligned in the face of adversity.

This episode is a profound reminder of how culture lives through practice, intention, and heart—and how songs are a living breath of the ancestors calling us home.

#NextAncestorsPodcast

#WilliamWasdenJr

#CulturalPrerogatives

#IndigenousSongs

#SongCreation

#LanguageRevitalization

#Kwakwakawakw

#TeachingsFromTheLand

#AncestralWisdom

#LivingCulture

#TraditionAndSpirit

#LeadWithSong

#StayPositive

#IndigenousCultureMatters

#FirstNationsVoices

In this deeply reflective episode of The Next Ancestors Podcast, host Erin Brillon welcomes Shelly Joseph, a respected facilitator, cultural leader, and former member of Reconciliation Canada. Drawing on her lived experience and cultural grounding, Shelly shares heartfelt insights into the teachings that shaped her early life and her ongoing work in community healing and empowerment.

Shelly reflects on the key teachings passed down through observation and relationship, and speaks to the importance of intergenerational knowledge in building cultural identity. She dives into the profound work of healing from survival-based living to thriving, naming the emotional, spiritual, and cultural areas Indigenous people must reclaim to move forward in strength.

As a consultant and facilitator, Shelly empowers communities through workshops rooted in Indigenous worldviews, trauma-informed approaches, and deep personal reflection. Her work helps guide both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants toward connection, truth-telling, and action.

She also gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at her unique role as a “back room” lead at potlatches, explaining the responsibilities of organizing cultural protocol, supporting chiefs and families, and ensuring ceremony flows with grace and precision. Her experience in these sacred spaces underscores her role as both a cultural anchor and a quiet leader.

Shelly closes the conversation by sharing what makes her hopeful for future generations, while emphasizing which aspects of culture must remain unaltered—offering a clear call to preserve what is sacred while embracing growth.

#NextAncestorsPodcast

#ShellyJoseph

#IndigenousHealing

#CulturalEmpowerment

#BackRoomProtocol

#PotlatchLeadership

#TraumaInformedLeadership

#CulturalPreservation

In this inspiring episode of The Next Ancestors Podcast, host Erin Brillon sits down with June Johnson, a respected matriarch, cultural educator, and community leader from the Northwest Coast. Raised by parents who deeply instilled the importance of lineage, territory, and caring for community, June shares reflections on the teachings that shaped her, especially the role of a matriarch as a caregiver and knowledge keeper for her people.

June opens up about the mentorship work she leads with cultural groups—including a dedicated space for up-and-coming hereditary chiefs, where she helps young leaders reclaim their ancestral knowledge, learn their family and territorial histories, and prepare for their future responsibilities. She also facilitates open community cultural groups where anyone with a respectful heart is welcome to learn songs, dances, regalia-making, and traditional medicine harvesting.

The episode explores the value of plant medicines, how to harvest with respect, and the reciprocity and care involved in maintaining these sacred relationships with the natural world. June’s words carry the warmth of generations and a call to live your teachings by showing up for your people.

#JuneJohnson

#MatriarchWisdom

#IndigenousLeadership

#PlantMedicine

#LineageAndTerritory

#CulturalMentorship

#RevivingTraditions

#RegaliaMaking

#SongsAndDances

#NorthwestCoastCulture

#TraditionalTeachings

#IndigenousKnowledgeKeepers

#LeadWithLove

#CaretakersOfCulture

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode of The Next Ancestors Podcast, host Erin Brillon sits down with Chief Wedlidi Speck, a respected hereditary chief and cultural knowledge holder, to explore the complexities of Indigenous leadership, cultural revitalization, and what it means to carry tradition into the future.

Chief Speck shares powerful reflections on who mentored him in his early life, the profound lessons he learned through observation, and the differences between hereditary and elected leadership. He opens up about his work mentoring the next generation of hereditary chiefs and offers deep insights into what makes a truly responsible and grounded leader.

Together, Erin and Chief Speck discuss the tension between preserving sacred traditions and the natural evolution of culture, and how misinterpretations—both within and outside Indigenous communities—can threaten cultural integrity. Chief Speck offers thoughtful solutions for addressing these challenges in healthy, respectful ways.

The conversation also explores how Indigenous values can provide a blueprint for healing, belonging, and collective wisdom in an increasingly disconnected world. Chief Speck closes with an empowering message for younger generations who feel uncertain about their cultural identity, reminding them that they are more than enough—and that showing up with humility and heart is what truly matters.

In this powerful and heart-opening episode, we sit down with Chief Dr. Robert Joseph (Gwik̓ʷa̱las), a Hereditary Chief of the Gwawaenuk First Nation and one of the leading voices in Canada’s reconciliation movement. A survivor of the Indian Residential School system, Chief Joseph shares his personal healing journey, his deep belief in the power of love and forgiveness, and his vision for a future rooted in dignity, respect, and unity.

Through storytelling, humility, and profound wisdom, Chief Joseph reminds us that reconciliation isn’t just a political process—it’s sacred work. He invites us all to step into the responsibility of becoming the “next ancestors,” those who walk with integrity so future generations can thrive.

Whether you’re just beginning your reconciliation journey or deeply involved in advocacy, this episode will inspire you to act with heart, courage, and compassion.

In this episode of The Next Ancestors, we sit down with renowned artist and cultural leader Andy Everson (K’omoks First Nation) to explore the deep-rooted traditions of the potlatch system, the significance of traditional marriage practices, and the prerogatives that shape Indigenous governance and social structure.

Andy shares insights into how the potlatch remains a cornerstone of Indigenous law, wealth distribution, and community connection—despite colonial attempts to suppress it. We also dive into the role of marriage in traditional societies, the responsibilities that come with inherited names and crests, and how these cultural foundations continue to guide Indigenous identity and leadership today.

Join us for a conversation that bridges history and the present, offering a glimpse into the living traditions that continue to shape the future of Indigenous nations.