I was born in Blackfoot (Siksikaitsitapi) territory, home of the Blackfoot Confederacy, known today as Calgary, Alberta. I live now in the traditional, unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking (pronounced Lekwungen) peoples and W̱SÁNEĆ nations, also known as Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island. I am beyond grateful for the opportunities and abundance I’ve received growing up in Canada, despite its deep colonial histories of genocide and systemic racism. I acknowledge the atrocities that have occurred in this country and that I personally have greatly benefitted from them. It is part of my mission to stand for reconciliation and the Land Back movement by contributing my skills and knowledge of how we can find healing as humanity and reconnect with the land, as well as being inclusive of BIPOC voices, viewpoints, and opinions. May we find peace with each other, and may we learn to treat the land, our Mother Earth, and the original peoples of whatever territory we find ourselves on, with respect. 

Since I was a child, I’ve always loved being outside. My very first plant ally was the Saskatoon bush in my backyard. I used to mush her berries in my yellow play bucket to make jam. My dad took us camping every summer in Kananaskis and he gave me my first wild strawberry, which was completely awestruck by as a tiny one. My dad and I would watch and listen to the thunderstorms in Calgary over the summers, which are abundant there. He taught as an outdoor education teacher for many years, and he learned to fish and hunt from my grandfather, who was Metis. My father taught me how to make a fire, how to fish, a few things about different plants, and some of the basics of how to be self-sufficient in the bush. Even though he is getting older and our sharing has become more limited, to this day we talk about plants and animals that we come across on the land and share knowledge with each other. My ancestry is Metis and Scottish. My Scottish ancestors are from Fife. My Metis ancestors, as far back as I know which is several generations, are from Winnipeg, Manitoba. I’m not sure about who they were before that. Unfortunately my Metis grandfather never shared anything about his childhood with my dad, so I’m not sure what happened to him or my great grandparents, but apparently he knew how to butcher animals and used to hunt and fish with my dad. I’m quite certain that I come from Medicine People on both sides of my family, whether it be Indigenous medicine to Turtle Island and the Witch traditions from Europe. I am honored to carry the medicine of my ancestors.