In this episode of Rooted in Gwekwaadziwin, Sam and Matt sit down with Dr. Brenda M. Restoule, CEO of the First Peoples Wellness Circle (FPWC) and one of the leading voices in Indigenous mental wellness across the country.

Brenda, from Dokis First Nation and Eagle Clan, has spent decades supporting communities, helpers, and wellness teams through culturally grounded approaches that centre Indigenous knowledge, land, and community strengths. As a clinical psychologist and national leader, her work has helped shape the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework and guide the development of culturally safe, community-driven mental wellness systems.

This conversation explores:

• The roots of Brenda’s work in Anishinabek territory
• How culture, land, and identity form the foundation for wellness
• The growth of Indigenous mental wellness teams across the country
• The role of the First Peoples Wellness Circle in supporting helpers and communities
• How we strengthen cultural safety and community-based healing

Listeners can explore FPWC’s Knowledge Exchange and Resource Sharing Hub — an accessible, custom-curated space designed specifically for the Indigenous mental wellness workforce. The Resource Hub offers training materials, tools, frameworks, and cultural resources to support helpers and Wellness Teams in their work:

👉 Resource Hub: https://resourcehub.fpwc.ca/

And don’t miss FPWC’s own powerful series: 🎙️ pihtikwê: Visits with First Nations Psychologists Mobilizing Indigenous knowledge on trauma repair, addiction recovery, community survivance, and care. 👉 https://fpwc.ca/pihtikwe-podcast/

A powerful conversation with a national leader whose vision continues to influence the future of Indigenous mental wellness.