My name is Shezell-Rae Sam; I am from the Ahousaht Nation, which is in Maaqutusiis village, within the lands of Nuu-chah-nulth People. I was an uninvited guest when I moved here at the age of 14; I continued to grow, live and learn on the traditional lands of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking people, and SENĆOŦEN speaking people. I am married to Nick who is from W̱JOȽEȽP (Place of Maples) (Tsartlip First Nation), which is a part of W̱SÁNEĆ (the emerging people), together we are raising our five children. Currently, I am a MA student with the school of Child & Youth Care, and am a teaching assistant, while continuing to facilitate research. I am passionate about re-centering Indigenous teachings, while researching the impacts of lateral violence.

Anna Chadwick is an artist, Registered Art Therapist and Registered Clinical Counselor. Born on Bantu territories in Zambia, Anna is Tamil, South African, and British and currently lives and works on W̱SÁNEĆ territories. She has been working alongside children, youth, and families to support wellness in rural remote northern British Columbia and Victoria for 18 years. She currently works as an art therapist and clinical counselor at the Victoria Child Abuse Prevention Centre and is a researcher for Kinship Rising at UVic. Anna completed her MA in Child and Youth Care at UVic and her Art Therapy graduate diploma at the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute (VATI). With the primary intention to promote self-expression and dignity, Anna incorporates her trauma informed practice with mindfulness, art, and nature based therapies. 

Hello, my English name is Chantal Adams and my Haida name is Jaadaa Stlinlaa. I was born and raised on my traditional homeland of Haida Gwaii for the first eight years of my life. I am Haida through my father and of European descent through my mother. I grew up with an abundance of family and enjoying living with the land. My connection with my culture and my family is what guides me in my daily and academic lives. I am still learning, growing, and pursuing knowledge about my culture and I hope to learn spruce root weaving from my aunty in the near future. I am currently enrolled in the Child and Youth Care program at the University of Victoria doing my ‘Indigenous specialization.’ I try to bring my spirit and the spirit of my culture into my work. 

My name is Shantelle Moreno and I was born and raised on traditional Musqueam territories, (Vancouver, BC). My parents immigrated as children from opposite sides of the world, and I am of mixed South Asian and South American ancestry. I’ve had the honour and privilege of living on lək̓ʷəŋən, Esquimalt, and WSANEC lands (Victoria, BC) for almost 13 years. I am a student in the School of Child and Youth Care, and work as a youth and family counsellor and youth facilitator. I am passionate about feminism, supporting LGBTQ youth, and strengthening cultural identity and connections amongst girls and young women.

Angela Scott is Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC),  and currently practices as a Child, Youth and Family Therapist at the Victoria Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Centre (VCAPCC). She has worked with children, youth, and families for 14 years, in child welfare, justice, and mental health.  With a specialized focus on trauma and the child welfare system, Angela’s educational background includes an MA in Child and Youth Care and a BA in Social Sciences, from the University of Victoria. Angela draws on her educational knowledge and experiences working with children and youth in a variety of trauma-informed practice settings such as, counselling and therapy, victim service support, Child and Youth Mental Health, and intensive trauma-informed behavioural programming. As an Indigenous, multi-racial woman (Ojibwe, Métis, Danish, English) she approaches her practice in a way that is best described as response–based, feminist, carrying her ancestor’s traditional knowledge, while upholding dignity and respect for all people with whom she works.

Hello, my traditional name is Imscha and my given name is Keenan Andrew. I come from the Ahousaht First Nation of the Nuu’chah’nulth People. I was born in Tofino on traditional Nuu’chah’nulth territory; however, I was raised on traditional K’ómoks territory. My partner is from K’ómoks First Nation and we have a son together. My Indigenous culture and traditions are what guide my day-to-day life, as well as my practice as a Child and Youth Care praxis. I love my family and being a father, being outdoors, photography, baseball, and hockey to name a few! Klecko klecko (thank you).

Hello, my name is Michaela Louie! I have mixed european and Nuu Chah Nulth ancestry. I have always lived on Coast Salish lands, and I am grateful and honoured to have lived on these grounds that hold so much power and strength. I did not have the opportunity to grow up on my families traditional lands, nor was I raised with traditional teachings or cultural activities. Since starting post secondary, I have explored my family history, and started learning about my culture and traditions. Indigenous activism is something that is very important to me, and I constantly strive to decolonize my praxis. I am in my fourth year of my Child and Youth Care undergrad, specializing in the Indigenous stream. In my spare time I like reading and going to the beach. Kleco-Kleco

Tansi, Carmin Blomberg, nisîthikâson, Peter Ballantyne (Bear) Nêhiyaw Nation, Pelican Narrows Saskatchewan, ochi nitha. (Hello, Carmin Blomberg is my name, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, Pelican Narrows Saskatchewan is where I’m from). 

I am Néhiyaw (Cree) and Norwegian Sweden Jewish from my father, and French and Scottish from my mother. I identify as Two Spirit and my pronouns are, She/Her/They/Them. In my accountability as a visitor, I acknowledge I carry privilege of growing up on the lək̓ʷəŋən, Esquimalt, and W̱SÁNEĆ territories of the Coast Salish Peoples and am grateful. 

I am an Artist who focuses on my Néhiyaw blood memory in painting, drawing, beading, sewing, and carving teachings taught from my Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis brother from Gilford Island. I work with Youth, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers in community development projects centered on healing colonial violence and reclaiming identity.

With genuineness, humility, reciprocity, resurgence, reclamation, responsibility, and accountability, I seek to communicate from the heart and listen to guidance from my family, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and spirit to carry myself and gifted traditional teachings in a meaningfully impactful way. By emphasizing the continual importance of our youth, Elders and community relationships, we learn from one another and carry forward ways of being that will reflect how one cares for themselves and each other for generations.

Kahkithaw niwahkômâkanak, (All my relations in Cree),

Carmin Blomberg
Maskwa Nêhiyaw (Bear Cree)

Haisai/Hello! My name is Elika Yamauchi and I am privileged to have been born and raised on the stolen, traditional, and ancestral territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and sel̓íl̓witulh First Nations. I am a second generation Uchinaanchu/Ryukyuan (more commonly known as Okinawan) immigrant settler and occupier of these lands. 

I hold a Bachelors in Psychology, and was introduced to the amazing Kinship Rising Team during the completion of my BCYC with the Indigenous Specialization at UVic. I am incredibly humbled by the mentorship of this team, and grateful for how it has shaped me as a CYC practitioner working alongside children, youth, and families living in the inner city. Kinship Rising has also been a large part of my personal journey in healing and reconnecting with my culture, for which I am eternally grateful.

My name is Lisana Dodd Chesney. I currently live on the unceded lands of the  Hul’qumi’num speaking people on Salt Spring Island. I have a great respect and love for the forests, creeks and ocean, and all those who live with them. I express this through poetry and photography.

My mom immigrated to Canada from Jamaica to raise a family. The motto of Jamaica is “Out of many, one people”. My ancestors include the Taíno people of the Caribbean, folks from Ghana, Scotland, Lebanon, Portugal via Brazil. My father’s family came to Canada from Scotland and England in the early 1900’s. The dominant culture in my childhood home was West Indian/British. I enjoy sharing family stories, music and foods with my own child.

I am a 4th year student at UVic School of Child and Youth Care. It is through CYC that I discovered my affinity for research through the lens of Indigenous principles and values. This is what led me to Kinship Rising. I am honoured to be here.