Our Storytellers

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we sit down with Brittany Lavallee, a passionate youth advocate, researcher, and PhD student at the University of Manitoba. We explore Brittany’s journey growing up in Northern Manitoba and how her experiences shaped her adaptability and connection to her Indigeneity.  We discuss her transition into human rights advocacy, her research on birth alerts at the Fir...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we sit down with Squamish matriarch and project cultural advisor, Yvonne Wyss. In this conversation, Yvonne and her son catch up to review the special moments and "put a cherry on top" of their 20-episode series exploring the Squamish Nation. Yvonne reflects on the intensity and joy of visiting with community members, sharing how she learned surprisin...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we are joined by educator and knowledge keeper Cherie Baker .In this episode, we sit down with Cherie Baker Queen. Adopted during the 60s Scoop and raised in a Squamish family in Mission, Cherie shares how spiritual experiences guided her back to her birth family. She recounts returning to Ahousaht, where she was welcomed at a potlatch, given a name, and brough...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we are joined by Tammy Zalischuk. Tammy’s life story is a testament to the resilience required to break cycles of trauma. In this honest conversation, she takes us from her nomadic childhood picking fruit in the United States to her life in the Fraser Valley and Vancouver. She reflects on the deep, often painful influence of her mother, a residential school sur...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we are joined by Squamish journalist and educator, Latash Nahanee. Latash speaks about growing up in the village of Eslha7an and the different worlds that shaped him. He contrasts his experience in Roman Catholic schools with time spent in the Longhouse, where he first heard the drums and began attending ceremony at 13. He reflects on the influence of his mothe...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we sit down with Gitxaala storyteller and filmmaker, Leena Minifie. Leena grew up between Prince Rupert and Kitimat and describes herself as a curious, energetic child with a deep love for art. From copying dance moves on TV to joining a breakdancing crew at six-years-old, creativity shaped her early life. Leena’s curiosity pushed her to cold-call media compani...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we sit down with Nisga'a and Squamish Elder, Dehlia Nahanee. Dehlia grew up in the Nass Valley village of Nisga’a nation before roads and electricity, surrounded by family, stories, and culture. She shares memories of village life, from wild horses running through town to evenings by the stove listening to her grandmother’s teachings that blended faith and...

On this episode of Our Storytellers , we sit down with Squamish Nation matriarch Frances Nahanee.  In this conversation, she takes us back to her childhood on the Mission Reserve, where she grew up in a small wartime house alongside her fourteen siblings. She shares heartfelt memories of her parents. Her father was a resourceful man who meticulously recorded ancestral names and histories for elder...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we sit down with Squamish Nation matriarch, Christine Baker. Christine carries a deep connection to the land and waters of her territory. As the daughter of the late Chief Simon Baker (Khot-La-Cha), she shares incredible stories of a childhood defined by hard work and the rhythm of the tides. She describes life on the Capilano reserve, recounting days spent har...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we sit down with Squamish Nation matriarch, Victoria Michels. In this conversation, she takes us back to her childhood on the Mission Reserve, sharing memories of her parents, her father, a dedicated longshoreman who provided for his family with quiet strength, and her mother, a residential school survivor whose spirit remained unbroken despite the hardships sh...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we are joined by Squamish artist and carver, John Spence. John’s story is a powerful testament to the human spirit's capacity for healing and transformation. In this raw and honest conversation, he takes us back to his childhood on the Capilano reserve, sharing memories of playing tree tag in the vine maples and fishing day and night on the river. He reflec...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we sit down with Squamish Nation matriarch, Angie Dawson. In this conversation, she takes us back to her childhood on the Capilano reserve, painting a vivid picture of life in a home with ten family members. Angie opens up about her incredible educational journey, returning to university at age 50 to earn her Graduate Diploma and Master’s degree. She discusses...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we sit down with Squamish Nation matriarch Gwen Harry. Born Gwen Baker from both the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation and the Tla'amin Nation, Gwen has 7 children, 15 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren,  In this deeply personal conversation, Gwen takes us back to her early childhood on the Capilano reserve, a time she remembers as one of freedom where...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we sit down with Deacon Rennie Nahanee. Rennie has served as a Deacon at St. Paul’s Catholic Church for many years, but his story is one of incredible transformation and diverse experiences. Rennie shares memories of his childhood, from raising farm animals and picking berries in the States to the "rock and roll" years of his youth playing guitar in h...

In December 1941, nearly 2,000 young Canadian soldiers were sent to defend Hong Kong. Outnumbered, outgunned, and cut off, they fought for 17 days before being forced to surrender. For the survivors, the battle didn’t end there. They spent over four years in prisoner-of-war camps in Hong Kong and Japan, facing starvation, forced labour, and brutal treatment. Now, with the last of these veterans go...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we’re joined by Squamish Nation matriarch, Eileen "Chooch" Joe. Chooch is a proud member of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation with family roots connecting her to Tsleil-Waututh. Eileen shares the hilarious and touching story of how she got her famous nickname. She reflects on growing up off-reserve in Lynn Valley and the powerful teachings she receiv...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we sit down with Shannon Henderson. Shannon is the Chief Operating Officer of the Orange Shirt Society , working alongside Phyllis Webstad to support survivors and educate Canadians about the history and legacy of residential schools. More personally, Shannon shares her own powerful journey of reconnection: finding her place within the community after growing u...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we’re joined by Squamish Nation matriarch, Jo-Ann Nahanee. Jo-Ann is a member of the Nahanee family of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation and also carries a connection to the Lytton Nation on her mother’s side. She is a residential school survivor, a mother, a grandmother, and a storyteller. In a conversation that feels like a ceremony in itself, Jo-Ann shares...

On this special episode of Our Storytellers, released on Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we are honoured to be joined by Phyllis Webstad. Phyllis is a member of the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation (Secwépemc) and a residential school survivor. She is the visionary founder of the Orange Shirt Day movement, a globally recognized author, and the leader of the...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we’re joined by Kelly Kesler from the Gitxsan Nation. As a Bill C-31 recipient who reconnected with her status and heritage later in life, her story is one of resilience, rediscovery, and the enduring importance of family. In our conversation, Kelly shares her experience of growing up in a non-Indigenous neighborhood, unaware of her heritage until she was a tee...

In this episode of Our Storytellers , we sit down with Valerie Newbreast. A matriarch from the George family of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation. Valerie is a matriarch, mother, grandmother, and knowledge keeper whose life journey spans rural self-sufficiency, international experiences, and a deep reconnection with Indigenous ceremony and spirituality. She shares stories of her childhood on a sm...

In this episode of Our Storytellers , we sit down with Linda Calla from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation. Linda is a matriarch, community leader, and a strong voice for accountability, governance, and the importance of preserving family and Nation histories. She shares powerful stories about her grandfather’s role during the 1923 amalgamation, her family’s deep roots in Squamish, and her own jou...

On this episode of Our Storytellers, we’re joined by Iris Newman. Iris grew up in the village of Eslhá7an, located in the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation. She is a daughter, wife, storyteller, and community member whose life has been shaped by resilience, humour, and a deep connection to family. In our conversation, Iris shares vivid memories of her childhood in Eslhá7an, a...

In this episode of Our Storytellers, we sit down with Roberta Baker from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation. Roberta is a Sixties Scoop survivor, knowledge keeper, a matriarch, and respected member of the local community. With warmth, resilience, and a beautiful sense of humour, Roberta shares her powerful story of survival, reconnection, and spiritual strength. She speaks about her experience bei...

What does it take to leave a job and build an award-winning Indigenous fashion brand from the ground up? In this episode, Justin Jacob Louis — father, designer, artist, and entrepreneur from Samson Cree Nation — shares his journey of courage and perseverance. ( Ahkameyimok ). As the founder of SECTION 35, Justin blends the past and present to create powerful designs that celebrate Indigenous ident...